Fostering Change seeks to change public policy for youth 'aging out' of government care in BC. Our campaign consists of Community Organizers with lived experience applying all they can to this work to make change.
Goal: That the Agreements with Young Adults program is both comprehensive and universal for any youth aging out of care.
Comprehesive: Support that lifts us in equity with our peers, including financial support based on actual living costs, mental health and life skills resources, and supportive people in our lives.
Universal: All youth who age out of government care at 19 have access, regardless of legal status or readiness to attend post-secondary. Additionally, this support must be available to anyone youth who has spent time in care and does not have access to support at 19.
The Launch
Vancouver Foundation launched Fostering Change in 2013 with the goal of addressing homelessness by providing opportunities and support for youth transitioning out of foster care. Their five-year history included these highlights:
- Showed that 92% of people across BC provide their own children with support post-19, and that 76% believe support should be extended for foster care youth
- Calculated that costs of up to $268 million per year are associated with the adverse experiences of youth from care, while only $57 million per year is required to improve outcomes
- Attracted over 17,000 petition signatures demonstrating that the public want to see action on this issue by government, business, and the community
- Expanded youth engagement by non-profits, including youth with lived experience as staff and partners in research and project implementation
- Created a “Candidates Pledge” signed by both current and former Ministers for Children and Family Development, 41 MLA’s, and 147 BC Election Candidates, to further improve support
- Distributed $5M in grants to non-profits to create better connections / support for foster care youth
Move to First Call
In Spring 2018, the Fostering Change campaign moved to First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition.
First Call was chosen as the host of the project as they have the tools, skills, and resources to continue making a difference on these issues.
First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition is a non-partisan coalition of 101 provincial and regional organizations who have united their voices to put children and youth first in BC through public education, community mobilization, and public policy advocacy.
Coalition members work together to make sure all BC’s children and youth benefit from the 4 Keys to Success for Children and Youth:
- A strong commitment to early childhood development
- Support in transitions from childhood to youth and adulthood
- Increased economic equality
- Safe and caring communities
Privacy Policy
Fostering Change is a campaign hosted by First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition. First Call does not sell, trade, or rent our mailing lists or contact information.
We are housed within Vancity Community Foundation and comply with Vancity corporate privacy policy where applicable. Please visit the Vancity website for more detailed information about corporate privacy and security policies. Although not all of this information is applicable to our work at First Call, we follow their guidelines in managing personal information.