Ensuring a Lifelong Network of Support
Our Older Youth Readiness program serves youth ages 16–24 by helping them navigate and access services critical to their overall well-being—including mental health, education, housing, employment, and identity-affirming care. Youth, who often face additional barriers within the foster care system, are supported with inclusive services that recognize and respect their unique needs and experiences.
Youth ages 13–15 may also receive early support through the program to lay the groundwork for long-term success. Importantly, youth guide the development of their own service plans, ensuring that each pathway reflects their individual voices, priorities, and strengths. The ultimate goal is to foster strong, supportive relationships and prepare all youth—for interdependence and thriving adulthood.
How Does it Work?
The Older Youth Readiness Navigator guides the youth through an assessment of needs and dreams. From there, they jointly create the youth’s Roadmap to Readiness, a tool that drives the service plan. The Navigator acts as a care coordination consultant, collaborating with and organizing multiple systems tailored to the youth’s specific readiness plan.
In addition to social connectedness, the navigator works with the youth to ensure the following needs are addressed:
As systems are being navigated, we ensure the youth becomes empowered to advocate for themselves now and into the future.
What Makes It Unique?
Most youth we serve lack safe and meaningful connections to adults. The impact of a trusted adult is enormous; including: higher self-esteem, more motivation to succeed, less risk-taking behavior, improved physical and mental health, and positive employment and educational outcomes. For these reasons, the cornerstone of our Older Youth Readiness program is to ensure youth have a network of lifelong relationships.
Older Youth Empowerment
Older Youth Empowerment offers specialized support for families caring for LGBTQIA+ children. Older Youth Empowerment specialists employ a trauma-informed, psychoeducational approach to assist families in navigating common challenges, such as misinformation, resistance, fear, and grief.
Our approach is rooted in research that highlights the detrimental effects of family rejection on LGBTQIA+ children. We provide direct support to both children and their families, offering validation and guidance to navigate complex emotions. By promoting affirming care and dispelling unhelpful myths, Older Youth Empowerment cultivates an environment of support and understanding for families and their children. Through personalized programs and referrals, families embark on a transformative journey to embrace and affirm their child’s identity and unique needs.
What to Expect
Our Older Youth Empowerment Specialists conduct a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of each youth’s identity, including but not limited to cultural background, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and personal values. This evaluation is critical in understanding how identity factors influence the youth’s placement stability, the strength and quality of their family and community connections, and their readiness for a successful transition from foster care into adulthood. The specialist will use this insight to inform case planning, ensure culturally responsive services, and advocate for environments that affirm and support the youth’s sense of self, ultimately contributing to long-term emotional and social well-being.
Program Goals
The primary objective of Older Youth Empowerment is to foster learning and personal growth within families, empowering them to become affirming and advocacy-driven caregivers for their LGBTQIA+ child(ren). This approach acknowledges and responds to the unique experiences of each family, considering their cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds, with the aim of preserving placements, promoting reunification, and minimizing stressors that could negatively impact the mental health and well-being of the child(ren). Upon completion of the program and training, LGBTQIA+ children typically experience fewer suicide attempts, instances of running away from home, and self-harm behaviors. Additionally, there is a reduction in risky behaviors and an increase in educational continuity.
Who is Eligible?
A child (ages 13-24) who:
Measuring Impact
of youth met their identified goal
of youth have improved independent life skills*
*measured by an increase in the Casey Life Skills Assessment