We couldn’t be more excited to share some incredible news, marking a huge milestone in First Place’s 28-year journey: an independent evaluation by leading researchers at Chapin Hall confirms that our My First Place™ program is making a measurable difference for transition-age foster youth—both while in the program, at exit, and up to three years after exit.  

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What Did We Learn? 

Chapin Hall’s rigorous analysis, powered by data from the California Employment Development Department and National Student Clearinghouse, compared youth who enrolled and completed My First Place to similar youth who didn’t enroll. By examining both employment and wage earnings together with college enrollment, they found that young people who completed the program were more likely to be employed and earned more than those who did not complete the program and those who did not enroll.   

• Employment: Three years after exiting, participants who completed the program were 1.5 times more likely to be employed than non-participants. 

• Wages: On average, program completers earned 65% more than non-participants in the year they exited the program and 37% more than non-participants 3 years later.  

• Longer stays, planned exits, and exits to stable housing were also linked to higher employment rates and higher earnings.   

Program participants were more likely to enroll in college and more likely to complete a semester of college than their peers. Participation increased the likelihood of enrolling in college by 32% and the likelihood of completing a semester of college by 39%. However, participants were no more likely than nonparticipants to earn a postsecondary credential, suggesting that young people need additional support to finish school.  

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Why This Matters 

Independent validation of long-term impact is rare in our field. For the 200,000 youth eligible for extended foster care or housing vouchers nationwide, such proof demonstrates our program’s crucial role in building youth stability through housing, education, and employment. 

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A Journey, Not a Destination 

Building evidence isn’t a finish line—it’s a journey. This milestone reflects the hard work of program staff and, most importantly, the resilience of the youth we serve. First Place started as a graduate school project and has grown thanks to our innovative use of data and continuous feedback from staff and youth. 

We’re grateful to Tipping Point Community, Chapin Hall, and everyone who made this evaluation possible. Thanks to our team and the youth in My First Place—your journey is the reason this work matters. 

You can read the full report by clicking the button below.

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