We offer transition-age youth the programs they need today while influencing the laws, ideas, and policies that will impact future generations of foster youth for years to come.
Evidence-informed programming that supports foster youth transitioning into adulthood
Learning from our work to deliver effective programs, innovate, and share our findings
Addressing systemic barriers faced by foster youth through systems change
Building understanding and partnerships for systems change and program delivery
Transition-age foster youth represent one of the most marginalized populations in the country. At risk of intergenerational cycles of poverty, they are highly vulnerable to homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, the challenges of early parenthood, and dropping out of school. By the age of 23, many fail to complete critical educational and employment rites of passage that establish independence and future success.
25% of CA foster youth surveyed were homeless between the ages of 18 and 20.*
More than half of those surveyed did not graduate from high school on time.
Only 11% of California foster youth complete an AA or BA, while 88% said they’d like to.
55% of California foster youth surveyed at age 23 were currently working.
6% General Population
43% Foster Youth
23% General Population
74% Foster Youth
Nearly 43% of female and 74% of male foster youth will have been incarcerated, compared to 6% and 23% of their peers.
41% General Population
70% Foster Youth
28% General Population
50% Foster Youth
Over 70% of female and 50% of male foster youth will be parents by age 23, compared to 41% and 28% of their peers.
(Sources: California Dept. of Education, CalYOUTH Transitions to Adulthood Study, 2021)
HOW WE DO IT
First Place for Youth recognizes that through a combined effort of programming, policy work, rigorous evaluation, and smart partnerships, we can create the most effective swell of support for young adults exiting foster care.
WHAT WE DO IT WITH
In order to be effective for our young people, we understand the critical importance of “what’s working” and what’s not. By leveraging our Youth Roadmap Tool and gaining data-driven insights, First Place has identified four key support zones that make the biggest impact on transition-age foster youth. These building blocks of our programming focus on:
Impact Stories