Our Mission
Family & Youth Initiative creates a supportive community and lasting relationships for teens and young adults who are in or have aged out of foster care.
We connect teens in foster care with adults who become their support systems, ensuring teens have adults to rely on for advice, guidance, affection and a sense of belonging.
We connect teens in foster care with adults who become their support systems, ensuring teens have adults to rely on for advice, guidance, affection and a sense of belonging.
Mentor a Teen
Family & Youth Initiative mentors have an immeasurable impact on the lives of their mentees.Image removed. Mentors expose teens to new experiences and opportunities. They become trusted friends.
Host a Teen
Family & Youth Initiative host parents welcome a teen in foster care into their home for a series of weekend visits (at least two weekends a month for four months). Host parenting provides teens with intensive mentoring and new perspectives on adult life.
Adopt a Teen
Teens they need love and belonging just like all of us. Teens are not too old to bond or for you to mold. In fact, teens in foster care are some of the most loving young people you’ll ever meet.
Our Upcoming Events
Establishing Roots: A Fundraising Reception
October 7th, 2026
Volunteer Ongoing Training-Supporting Without Recusing
October 19th, 2026
This training is designed to support volunteer in understanding the underlying (more...)
Adventure Park Rope Course
November 7th, 2026
Adventure Park
Improv with The Theatre Lab
November 21st, 2026
Join us for an afternoon of improv! We will eat lunch, and enjoy an improv (more...)
Volunteer Ongoing Training-The Difference One Adult Can Make
December 9th, 2026
This training is designed to support volunteer in understanding the underlying (more...)
Family & Youth Initiative grew out of a need to support teens in foster care who would otherwise not have the lasting support of caring adults. Teens who “age out” of foster care face a much more difficult transition to adulthood than their non-foster care peers. At age 26, more than a third have experienced homelessness; only 6% have completed a two or four-year college; almost half are not working; and nearly 60% of men and 30% of women have been convicted of a crime.
Hear from teens how DCFYI has made a difference in their lives: