The Challenge
For many children, the path to adulthood is rough. Right now, more than 435,000 children are growing up in foster homes; 120,000 have been permanently separated from their parents and are waiting for adoption; 20,000 will turn 18 and “age out” without family support. We have a responsibility to do better. Preserving and strengthening families can allow children to grow up safely in their own homes without the trauma of family separation, and effective services can be the bridge to adulthood for young people who leave foster care alone.
Our Approach
Decades of experience and research have taught us this: a family does a better job of raising a child than the state. We provide and advocate for innovative, evidence-based, family-focused services designed to bring help and hope to children and their families, as well as proven services for young adults turning 18 in foster care.
1 in 20
children and youth in the U.S. are in state foster care systems
120,000+
are waiting for a new family through adoption
Our Impact
We’re changing the lives of thousands of children, families and young people every year through our direct services and partnerships with organizations and agencies around the country. Our work is to transform children’s systems, deepen our impact and deliver better results one child and one family at a time.
States
Locations
%
success rate


- Youth Villages States
- Partnering States
Ambition
LifeSetTM Scholar participant, Kauna, shares her story of how this Youth Villages program impacted her life.
Stories of Hope
Helping children and families live successfully
Update: Here’s a report from two of our Lived Experience Grant recipients
Over the past two years, Youth Villages supported eight nonprofit organizations led by individuals with lived experience in child welfare systems who are improving outcomes for transition-age young people through programming, advocacy and systems reform.
Want to improve outcomes for young adults leaving foster care? Here’s the playbook…
Despite some advances in support, young people who leave foster care at 18 continue to face critical challenges, including barriers to stable housing, access to basic assistance, opportunities for quality jobs and consistent educational support.
5 Mississippi youth courts receive grants from New Allies
Youth courts in Bolivar, Marion, Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties in Mississippi will be able to provide a range of innovative supports and evidence-based services to families through funding from New Allies, the consulting and technical assistance initiative of Youth Villages.
Map2Impact – Child welfare leaders make critical funding decisions every day. Here’s a new way to make those investments count.
Researcher Fred Wulczyn doesn’t have a crystal ball, but he believes a new initiative with Youth Villages may help child welfare leaders see a better future for their systems – and chart a course to get there.
Partners launch Youth Villages’ Intercept program model in Texas, Wisconsin
Nonprofits in Texas and Wisconsin are now helping children and families through Youth Villages’ evidence-based Intercept® program model. Texas.
MAKE A CAREER OUT OF CHANGING LIVES
Do you share our passion for helping children and families live successfully? We’ve got a place for you.