“I believe the future can be different. Stability and opportunities to grow for kids in foster care, having a strong community, caring mentors, and access to education can make all the difference. If we focus on these things, we can create a system where children not only survive but thrive. I want to see a future where every child in foster care knows they matter.” Youth 

Washington State serves an estimated 2,000 young people aged 18 to 26 transitioning out of foster care, yet despite being national leaders in Extended Foster Care enrollment and offering robust programs like rental subsidies, case management, and post-secondary education support, far too many youth continue to fall through the cracks.  

Only 53% of foster youth graduate high school on time compared to 84% of their peers, 25% experience homelessness while in Extended Foster Care, and nearly half struggle with mental health challenges.  

First Place for Youth’s comprehensive 12-month systems mapping process—involving over 30 community partners, 13 youth with lived experience, and extensive data analysis—has produced the Washington Playbook, a detailed Implementation Guide that identifies four critical gaps:  

• Frequent and abrupt transitions through a fragmented system,  

• insufficient housing support,  

• minimal career pathway programming, and  

• inadequate emphasis on youth happiness and health.  

This essential playbook offers concrete, actionable solutions designed to guide agencies, advocates, and youth partners in creating a more equitable, coordinated, and youth-driven system. From adopting trauma-informed practice models like the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) to embedding career coaching within case management, connecting Built for Zero housing initiatives with Extended Foster Care, and creating safe third spaces for youth connection, each recommendation includes detailed implementation steps, timelines, and measurable outcomes.  

Developed through close collaboration between lived experts, providers, government partners, and philanthropy, this report represents a powerful vision where young adults are in charge of their own futures, empowered with the knowledge, skills, and resources to achieve lifelong independence, stability, and happiness. Whether you’re a policymaker, service provider, social worker, or youth advocate, the Washington Playbook provides the strategic roadmap needed to transform how stakeholders support transition-age foster youth across the state. 

Read the full playbook HERE!

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