SOAR (Strengthening Opportunities through Action and Resilience)

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) West LA Central LA East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley San Fernando Valley South Bay Antelope Valley Long Beach Gateway Cities

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

Over 15,590 youth aged out of foster care in 2023 alone
Educational Barriers: Only 3-4% obtain a four-year college degree compared to 36% general pop.
Employment and Financial Struggles: Approximately 50% are employed by their mid-20s, with average monthly earnings significantly below the national average
Mental Health Crisis:
25-40% of youth aging out of foster care report suicidal ideation (compared to 4.1% in the general population)
Foster youth are 3-5 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers
Over 50% experience moderate to severe mental illness
Justice System Involvement: 25% of foster care alumni become involved with the criminal justice system within two years of leaving care
Housing Instability:40-50% of former foster youth experience homelessness within 18 months of emancipation
Racial Disparities: Black children represent 14% of the child population but 22% of foster care youth, highlighting systemic inequities that compound challenges for youth of color

SOAR empowers foster and systems-impacted youth aged 18–24 through comprehensive support that addresses their emotional, economic, and housing needs—while equipping them with the tools to contribute meaningfully to wildfire recovery and community rebuilding while improving their quality of life and wellbeing.
SOAR’s Key Components
1. Veteran-Led Mentoring:
Pairs youth with veterans who provide purpose-driven, trauma-informed guidance
Builds resilience, discipline, and trust through lived experience and shared service values
2. Life Skills & Mental Health Support:
Uses the LifeScore app to assess wellbeing, track individual progress, provide resources, and adjust interventions
Develops mindset, emotional intelligence, and belief systems to overcome trauma and hopelessness
3. Workforce Training in Construction:
Trains youth in high-demand trades and connects them to rebuilding projects in Alta Dena and Pacific Palisades (areas impacted by wildfires)
Facilitates long-term employment through union pathways and industry placement via PVJobs
4. Housing Navigation and Stability Services:
Connects youth to transitional and permanent housing resources
Helps mitigate the high risk of homelessness through education, advocacy, and support
5. Group Activities and Community Engagement:
Offers activities like biking, hiking, sports, and service events to build social skills and reduce isolation
Fosters a sense of belonging and connection to the community

If SOAR reaches its full potential, Los Angeles County will be a more equitable, resilient, and inclusive region where youth aging out of foster care no longer fall through systemic cracks—but instead rise into leadership, employment, and housing stability.
Mental health crises among young adults will decrease through proactive intervention, peer mentorship, and emotional development supported by the LifeScore app.
By investing in early intervention, LA County can reduce downstream public costs.
Youth trained through SOAR will play a direct role in rebuilding wildfire-damaged areas like Alta Dena and Pacific Palisades—gaining income, purpose, and pride while restoring community infrastructure.
SOAR will demonstrate that with the right mentorship, resources, and opportunity, even the most vulnerable youth can thrive. This program can become a replicable model across other parts of California and the U.S., elevating LA County as a national leader in foster youth transition success.