Nearly half of the District foster care population is composed of teens and young adults ages 14 to 20. Everyone serving these young people has two critical obligations to them:
- Continue to seek permanence through reunification with the birth family, legal guardianship (often with relatives) or adoption. At the very least, ensure every youth in care has a relationship with a caring adult committed to providing lifelong guidance and support.
- Prepare these young people for adulthood with the same quality of nurturing, guidance, support and opportunities that good parents provide for their own children.
Target Goals for District Youth in Care
- Increase high school graduates
- Increase college graduates
- Increase youth who complete vocational training and/or receive industry certification
- Increase youth age 20 who are employed or receiving post-secondary education
- Decrease youth who age out of foster care
- Increase engagement of youth in after-care services
- Increase youth with stable housing upon exit
A Resource for Partnership and Support
CFSA’s Older Youth Empowerment (OYE) plays a leadership role in achieving positive outcomes for older youth in care. OYE coordinates with and supports social workers, resource parents, and others helping older youth in care, ages 14 to 20, prepare for life on their own. OYE also partners with other public agencies, community organizations, and businesses to provide a robust array of resources and opportunities for older youth in care to build skills and gain experience.
Alicha Jones, Administrator
Alexandra Mizelle, Program Manager
Available Resources:
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College and Career Preparation Services: Youth attending post‐secondary institutions and their caregivers get support from specialists who assist in the college and career preparation process. OYE has two dedicated teams that provide college and career preparation to all youth beginning in the 9th grade. These units support high school graduation and exposure to various career paths. For youth interested in pursuing a vocational trade, OYE partners with public and private job-training programs and employers to offer youth opportunities for work experience, vocational training, certification, and sustainable employment.
Contact: Joelle Myers, [email protected], (202) 727‐1325.
- Additional services coming soon.
CFSA's Older Youth Empowerment (OYE), located at 3350 9th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, offers a host of services and growth experiences for District teens and young adults in foster care.