At Fostering Change we believe all youth should look forward to their 19th birthday.
Fostering Change is a campaign that is focused on improving outcomes for youth leaving government care. The 2 pillar approach of Youth Development and Policy Advocacy create a unique climate of change for all youth in/from care. We are supported in our work by First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition. It's grassroots, and in British Columbia, Canada, on traditional, unceded territories of the many Coast Salish Peoples.
Our role is to engage youth in advocacy through capacity building workshops, peer network building, awareness raising and through advocacy action. Our focus demographic of youth we seek to engage are youth (under the age of 30) who have lived expertise in government care, all care statuses accepted. Fostering Change is a non-membership required, non-partisan and peace based campaign that lobbies to create change through various mediums.
The Issue
Youth are leaving care unsupported
- Over 40% of homeless youth have been part of the child welfare system
- 45% of youth from care aged out without any high school credential (2016/2017)
- 65% of BC youth in care are Indigenous, yet they make up only 10% of the under 19 year old's in the general population.
- Educational, economic, social, and holistic wellness outcomes for many youth aging out of care are drastically lower when compared to their peers not in care.
The Solutions
Adequate and reliable - the support British Columbians provide their children
• An automatic enrollment into supports for all youth in and from care regardless of time spent in care, or care status.
• Guaranteed and equitable access to financial assistance - including start up costs for independent living, tuition waivers, and safe dignified housing.
We attracted over 17,000 petition signatures from allies like you demonstrating that the public want to see action on this issue by government, business, and the community.
The Support 
Since 1987,75 reports centered on youth in care and the ‘aging out’ of care process have been published across Canada, amounting to over 435 concrete recommendations for change to child protection policy and practice targeted to the transition to adulthood for youth in care. Check out the reports and recommendations in summary document "A Long Road Paved with Solutions" complied by Dr. Melanie M. Doucet.
Connect with Campaign Organizer Susan Russell-Csanyi to learn more ([email protected]) (604-970-5462)
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.