New support model announced for youth in care to transition to adulthood

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TAP also features the Advancing Futures program. The Advancing Futures program is described as the first of its kind in Canada and is expected to continue to provide funding and emotional and social supports for eligible young adults who have been in government care to support them in pursuing post-secondary studies.

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“When you transition out of government care, you don’t always have the long-term, consistent support that makes life so much easier for people living on their own for the first time,” explains Native Counselling Services of Alberta executive director Marlene Orr, “Transitional supports and resources to support former and current Indigenous youth in care and young adults navigate the adult world are essential to any successful transition into adulthood.”

Funding of $48 million has been allocated to support Youth in Transition Programming, which includes TAP.

The Transition to Adulthood program is open to anyone between the ages of 18-24 who was formerly in government care. The program will offer participants access to financial supports up until the day before they turn 22 as well as providing mentorship opportunities, life skills, mental health and addiction supports, and help in job hunting.

Boys and Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director Liz O’Neill emphasizes the importance that positive role models can have on a young person’s life.

“Positive relationships are critical to a young person’s success, and the Boys and Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters works closely with Children’s Services to provide mentoring, tools and supports to youth in care and young adults as they transition to adulthood, to help them be successful in school and in life.” adds O’Neill.

Young adults can apply to the Advancing Futures program up until the day before they turn 25 and can receive supports to pursue their educational goals for up to five years or until the day before they turn 31.

Any young adults who are currently receiving support though the Ministry of Children’s Services will be transitioned to TAP following the launch of the program and previous clients who qualify can apply for the TAP program once the new program launches in April.

NDP Critic for Children’s Services Rakhi Pancholi issued the following statement in response to the government’s Transitioning to Adulthood Program:

“It has been over a year since this UCP government took away support from young Albertans transitioning out of government care. I have heard first-hand from young people about the stress, anxiety and hardship that the UCP’s cruel decision to reduce the age of eligibility for young people in need of the Support and Financial Assistance Agreements caused them, particularly during the pandemic.

“Yesterday, the government announced a ‘new’ program that will see some social and mentoring supports continue for these young people to the original age of 24, but financial supports will still be cut off at the age of 22. Budget 2022 shows that almost $10 million less is being invested in supports for youth transitioning out of care than in 2020-21. This is at a time when we continue to see an alarming increase in the deaths of youth leaving government care and in opioid-related deaths.

“This period of time is incredibly critical for young people leaving government care. This partial reversal by the UCP also does not address the extensive list of critical recommendations by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate on how to improve outcomes for children and youth in care.”