The National Collaborative for
Transition-Age Youth

About the Collaborative

The National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth (TAY) brings together young people with lived experience, state and local child welfare policymakers, advocates and the combined strength of Youth Villages, FosterClub, American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) and Embark Georgia Center. The goal is to bring stakeholders together to help transform support for youth ages 16 to 26 currently in or aging out of the country’s child welfare systems.
Members of the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth at a meeting in 2024.
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FAQs

IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG ADULTS and the Systems that Serve Them — A PLAYBOOK OF BEST PRACTICES

group of youth
Co-designed with young adults with lived experience in foster care, Improving Outcomes for Young Adults and the Systems that Serve Them: A Playbook of Best Practices is a roadmap to guide practitioners, agencies and policymakers at every level to better serve and support young people. For young adults, it is a foundation for opportunities to elevate services and support and to engage in advocacy and systems change.
View the Playbook

Overview

Executive Summary

Resources

The National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth and its partnering organizations are creating resources to be used by the field to bring positive change to child welfare systems and improve outcomes for young people.

Creating Extended
Foster Care That
Works For All

Faqs

Here are some of the most common questions we hear about the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth. If you have others, please contact us!

What is the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth?

The National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth was formed in 2023 by the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), FosterClub and Youth Villages to bring stakeholders together to transform child welfare policies, services and support for young people who are currently in or leaving the country’s child welfare systems. Together, we work to ensure young adults have the stability, opportunities and support they need to thrive. The group’s collective vision is to help leaders create stronger, more responsive systems that truly center the needs and voices of young adults. Embark Georgia Center became a new partner in 2025 to support the ongoing assessment and evaluation of the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth.

What makes the National Collaborative different?
It focuses on the process of co-design, bringing together young people with lived experience, state and local child welfare leaders and the combined strength of the national partners. In sessions, the National Collaborative used many different perspectives to uncover gaps in services and find flexible solutions.
Why is helping young adults who experience foster care so important?

Despite increases in support in the last decades, former foster youth still face critical challenges, including barriers to stable housing, access to basic assistance, opportunities for quality jobs and consistent educational support. More than 343,000 youth are in foster care now; nearly 16,000 age out every year, joining the growing number of former foster youth across the country. Through the National Collaborative, young adults with lived experience in child welfare systems are co-designing solutions to help youth in the system now and those aging out.

How can I help?

Please help us share the Playbook of Best Practices and other resources being developed by the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth. Contact us, if you’d like to learn more about improving transition-age services in your jurisdiction.

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For more information or to contact the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth, email us.

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