Youth Villages has announced a new round of Opportunity Grants to support states interested in adding or expanding its evidence-based program models, LifeSet™ and Intercept^®.

LifeSet is one of the nation’s largest evidence-based models providing comprehensive support for young people (ages 17-23) in and aging out of foster care.

LifeSet provides intensive and individualized support for young people across a wide range of domains, including employment and earnings, housing stability, mental and emotional health, economic well-being, education, relational permanency, social connectedness, and reduced legal system involvement.

LifeSet Opportunity Grants provide matching funds for states to add LifeSet to their service array or significantly expand an existing implementation. Awards are typically for up to three years, with grant funds titrating down each year of the grant and government funding covering the full cost of services by the end of the grant period. Jurisdictions can choose to contract with Youth Villages or have a private partner or public agency staff trained by Youth Villages to deliver LifeSet.

Intercept is an evidence-based, comprehensive in-home model with a versatile, broad scope that helps families with children of all ages (infants to age 18) who are involved in child welfare, children’s mental health and/or juvenile justice systems. Intercept provides evidence-based mental health interventions and parenting support to stabilize families and prevent the need for out-of-home placements or reunite children with their families if out-of-home placement is necessary.

Intercept is rated “Well-Supported” by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Youth Villages will award Intercept Opportunity Grants to cover a portion of the first-year, one-time costs associated with adding or expanding Intercept. These may include, but are not limited to, start-up fees and implementation expenses; “bridge funding” to cover the cost of delivering services until FFPSA or other government funding is secured; funding a Map2Impact engagement to determine the areas of greatest need within a jurisdiction and develop an Intercept implementation strategy for greatest impact; or partnering with Youth Villages’ consulting team, New Allies, for technical assistance and practice change activities that pave the way for Intercept implementation.

“Opportunity grants are an important tool for states seeking to improve their continuum of care for children and families,” said Catherine Smith, chief strategy officer for Youth Villages. “These grants help states overcome the barriers that can make an initial investment prohibitive so they can bring high-quality programming to their communities. We’re excited to create new partnerships through these grants so we can help even more young people and families.”

Applicants for Youth Villages’ Opportunity Grants must be public agencies (i.e., state or county child welfare and human service agencies; community-based care organizations in privatized child welfare systems, etc.).

Since 2016, Youth Villages has awarded 25 grants to support jurisdictions in implementing LifeSet or Intercept. These grants are made available through generous philanthropic partnerships.

The application window for Opportunity Grants is open now. Applicants will be accepted, and reviewed as received, until funding is exhausted or until Jan. 31, 2026.

Visit Grants – Youth Villages to learn more.

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