First Place for Youth

First Place for Youth With the right guidance and support, teens leaving foster care can defy the odds stacked against them.

Our South Bay team in LA recently hosted a successful Back to School event, bringing together youth for an afternoon of ...
09/05/2026

Our South Bay team in LA recently hosted a successful Back to School event, bringing together youth for an afternoon of preparation and inspiration ahead of the new school year!

Youth received school supplies to help them start the semester strong, participated in a workshop focused on building time management skills, and got creative designing their own college pennants, each one sharing a personal reason for pursuing post-secondary education.

It was a great way to kick off the new school year with both practical support and a reminder of the bigger goals ahead. Great job, South Bay team!

First Place for Youth is thrilled to announce that Debbie Allen will be honored with our inaugural First Place Community...
09/03/2026

First Place for Youth is thrilled to announce that Debbie Allen will be honored with our inaugural First Place Community Impact Award at In the Key of Possibility, taking place Thursday, October 22nd at Somerville in Los Angeles.

Across a celebrated career as a dancer, actress, choreographer, and filmmaker, Debbie Allen has consistently used her platform to expand opportunity for others, particularly young people navigating obstacles on their own path forward. Through the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, she has built a legacy rooted in mentorship, culture, and access.

This award recognizes leaders whose influence extends far beyond their own success, shaping communities and inspiring the next generation to imagine bigger futures for themselves.

We're honored to celebrate her alongside our community of supporters and partners this October. Learn more and get your tickets: https://paybee.io/@26

Real systems change starts with lived experience. Our Mississippi site set out to build an environment where transition-...
09/02/2026

Real systems change starts with lived experience.

Our Mississippi site set out to build an environment where transition-age foster youth could be intentionally supported as they exit the foster care system, through housing, employment, education, and life skills programming.

Together with MDCPS and Mississippi Youth Voice, we've helped implement a supervised independent living option in the continuum of care, advocated for the largest allocation of FYI/FUP housing vouchers in the nation, established a state-funded full cost of attendance scholarship, and created specialized case management for youth.

None of this happened by accident. It came from dedicated advocacy, testimony, and young people with lived experience shaping every part of the strategy, including a 16-page Pathway to Independence policy report.

A year ago, Stevie found something they'd been looking for: stability. Today, they're building a future shaped by their ...
08/29/2026

A year ago, Stevie found something they'd been looking for: stability. Today, they're building a future shaped by their creativity, empathy, and determination, not just for themself, but for others who grew up in foster care.

With support from First Place for Youth, Stevie has been able to focus on what matters most: school, growth, and their goals. They're now studying social work and working toward a master's degree and a future in policy work that could help reshape the systems meant to support youth like them.

"I'm still pushing. I'm still going. I still keep my goals moving up and up and up and up. I don't let those goals just fizzle out."

Stevie is proof of what's possible with the right support system behind you. đź’›

Belonging took center stage as all three Solano programs, ILSP, MFP, and Housing Navigation, came together for the Indep...
08/27/2026

Belonging took center stage as all three Solano programs, ILSP, MFP, and Housing Navigation, came together for the Independent City and Back to School Event!

Youth attending the event visited tables hosted by community partners, including the Food Bank/CalFresh, Valley Strong, Solano Social Workers, Vacaville City HR, and the Vacaville Housing Authority. At each table, youth learned about available programs and benefits and collected stickers for a chance to win a raffle prize. To close out the event, youth received backpacks and school supplies to help kick off the new school year.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring the Solano programs together for this collaborative celebration of community and belonging!

The strength of our services starts with the strength of our staff. This month, our teams are focused on High Quality En...
08/26/2026

The strength of our services starts with the strength of our staff. This month, our teams are focused on High Quality Engagement, building authentic relationships where young people feel heard, valued, and empowered.

For transition-age youth navigating adulthood without a traditional safety net, these relationships can make all the difference.

Read more from Director of Practice Development Kwamane Harris: https://firstplaceforyouth.org/investing-in-our-staff-this-months-focus-on-high-quality-engagement/

Tickets are officially on sale! Join us for In the Key of Possibility, an evening of music, community, and impact benefi...
08/22/2026

Tickets are officially on sale! Join us for In the Key of Possibility, an evening of music, community, and impact benefiting foster youth across Los Angeles and beyond, taking place Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Hosted at Somerville in Windsor Hills, this celebration will feature a live band, delicious food, and inspiring stories from the young people whose lives are transformed through First Place for Youth's programs.

Every ticket and sponsorship directly supports foster youth as they build stable, independent futures. We hope you'll join us for an unforgettable night for an incredible cause.

Get your tickets today: https://paybee.io/@26

25 years of the Jim Casey Initiative, and 25 years of foster youth leading the way for systems change.Mississippi Youth ...
08/20/2026

25 years of the Jim Casey Initiative, and 25 years of foster youth leading the way for systems change.

Mississippi Youth Voice, a First Place for Youth program in partnership with the Jim Casey Initiative and the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, is led by young people with lived foster care experience who advocate for policies and practices that improve life for foster youth across the state.

Their advocacy has led to real wins, including the Kinkade FAITH Scholarship, which now covers the full cost of attendance for current and former foster youth at all state and many private colleges in Mississippi.

Thank you to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for celebrating 25 years of a network built on the leadership of young people with lived experience.

We're proud to share that our My First Place (MFP) program has been newly rated "3 - Promising Research Evidence" by the...
08/18/2026

We're proud to share that our My First Place (MFP) program has been newly rated "3 - Promising Research Evidence" by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) in their Youth Transitioning Into Adulthood Programs topic area.

This rating reflects the strength of research behind our approach to supporting foster youth through their transition to adulthood, and reinforces our commitment to evidence-based practices that create lasting impact.

Thank you to CEBC for this recognition!

Congratulations to Michael, a First Place for Youth participant, on completing an 8-week summer position in a creative a...
08/14/2026

Congratulations to Michael, a First Place for Youth participant, on completing an 8-week summer position in a creative art director role!

Through this opportunity, Michael gained valuable real-world experience in his field and had the chance to grow his professional skills. We're so proud of his hard work and dedication this summer.

Way to go, Michael! We can't wait to see what you create next!

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