Turning Adversity into Advancement: Transitional-Age Youth Mentoring and Career Development Project

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Young adults in Los Angeles County, including the more than 22,000 each year who are served by the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) child welfare programs, are at high risk for adversity. In April 2024, more than 4,600 youth (20%) served by DCFS were age 16 or older, and 89.9% were youth of color. Decades of research has found that children and youth served by child welfare systems encounter numerous barriers and challenges. Foster and former foster youth are less likely than their peers to earn a high school diploma, and significantly more likely to experience unemployment and homelessness in adulthood. A recent study examining system-involvement among Los Angeles youth found that 64% of youth with any interaction with child welfare systems are “dual system youth” with involvement in both the child welfare system and juvenile justice system. These youth experience significantly higher rates of referral to probation, detention, and institutionalization.

Turning Adversity into Advancement: The Los Angeles Urban League’s Transitional-Age Youth Mentoring and Career Development Project will provide a direct response to these structural disparities by providing evidence-based programming to support youth and young adults, including those with a history of, and/or risk factors for, system involvement. Mentoring, employment programs, and wrap-around services that help youth access a continuum of care and support necessary to enter adulthood with strong bonds to communities and support networks have been shown to effectively reduce these risks by boosting self-confidence, academic performance, and social connections. These assets inoculate young adults against challenges as they enter adulthood, diminishing the likelihood of drug abuse, violent behavior, depression, and delinquency.

We will create a supportive, resilient, and thriving community by empowering young adults to lead healthy, productive lives, galvanizing positive generational impact, justice and equity today and for the next 100 years.
Enhanced Community Bonds: With strong ties to the community, youth are more engaged members of society, fostering unity within neighborhoods.
Increased Economic Stability: Through job placement and career readiness, youth achieve economic independence and stability, benefiting both individuals and the long-term economic health of Los Angeles.
Improved Mental Health and Lower Rates of Delinquency: Wrap-around services and support networks reduce depression and other wellness issues, creating a mentally resilient community. Increased self-confidence, academic performance, and social connections through mentoring and employment programs reduce delinquent behaviors, substance abuse, and violence, contributing to safer neighborhoods and lower crime rates.

This is an early stage project beginning this year. We will collect a variety of metrics to determine project success. Los Angeles Urban League uses a Salesforce-based data management to collect, analyze, and report data at the individual participant and whole program levels. The data that will be collected to track our impact will include program participant information, including demographic characteristics, employment and salary history, past involvement with DCFS and/or justice system; and history of receiving state or federal supports; program participation data including training attendance and completion rates, certifications obtained, internship participation and completion, and skills assessments at the end of training programs; and training outcomes including job placement rates, employment retention for at least six months, income associated with job placements, and data about school completion/graduation, promotions and advancement among participants in job placements.