Sparks: Igniting Futures for LA County Foster Youth

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Foster youth face deep systemic challenges, with the average foster youth changing placements 8 times—some as many as 50—before emancipation, causing trauma that increases risk of homelessness, incarceration, trafficking, and poor mental and physical health. Only 24% graduate from high school, 10% enroll in college, and just 3% graduate from college. Roughly 20% experience homelessness within 2 years of aging out of the system. Many lack support networks and struggle to find stable, living-wage jobs.

Over half of California’s 60,000 foster youth live in Los Angeles County, where the need for transitional support is urgent. Foster Nation addresses these barriers through Sparks, a program that offers mentorship, professional development, and community support to youth aging out of the system. We believe foster youth deserve the tools, skills, and community to rise above their circumstances and thrive as independent adults.

Since 2022, Foster Nation’s flagship mentorship program Sparks has facilitated 367 mentorship relationships, pairing foster youth with trained volunteer coaches who guide them through life skills, financial literacy, career readiness, and mental and physical wellness lessons. With consistent mentorship, curated workshops, and access to professional networks, Sparks equips youth with the tools and confidence to reach their highest potential.

Cohort 7.0 will launch in September 2025 with 100 new coach and mentee pairs. 20 youth and 20 coaches will pilot our new Sparks platform. This platform—which features AI integration, partnering advanced technology with human connection—enables personalized goal-setting and planning so coaches and mentees can co-create detailed growth plans tailored to each individual.

We will collect pilot feedback throughout Cohort 7.0, which will inform platform updates in real time. Our current model and capacity allow us to induct a new cohort every 6 months, but our goal is to leverage our new Sparks platform and its built-in LMS component to induct new cohorts bi-monthly. This investment will allow us to continually onboard coaches, launching new Cohorts as often as every other month. Our progress will culminate in the launch of Cohort 8.0 in Q2 2026—the first group to benefit from the fully-integrated experience. This new format empowers foster youth to lead their learning journey, with coaches personalizing support based on their needs.

With LA2050’s support, Foster Nation will shift the landscape for young people aging out of foster care in LA County by breaking cycles of un- and under-employment. Sparks participants gain hands-on experience and in-demand skills that lead to measurable improvements in job readiness (82% saw improved GPA and academic performance), employment rates (66% of unemployed youth secured employment), and economic mobility (109% increase in average monthly income from before to after the program).

But the impact goes beyond the workplace: Sparks nurtures confidence, resilience, and community among foster youth. Connection is a vital part of transitioning into adulthood, and youth emerge not just with skills but with the belief that they belong and can succeed.

Our long-term vision is to scale Sparks across LA County and beyond, partnering with public entities like DCFS to serve more youth earlier. Success means a future where foster youth don’t just age out—they rise up, thrive, and lead.