You Belong: Foster Youth Initiative
On Thursday, April 17, we launched You Belong: Foster Youth Initiative (FYI)—a powerful new partnership with LA County Dept. of Children and Family Services to support foster youth ages 12–26. Our mission is to strengthen our communities, and that is why we are helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
During our kickoff event at Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center, leaders from across government, education, and community services came together to affirm what we all know: foster youth in Los Angeles deserves more, more stability, more support, and more places where they feel safe and seen. Our new initiative is a promise to Los Angeles that we are here to help our communities.
Along with President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Victor Dominguez, Assemblymember Isaac G Bryan, Assemblymember Mark Gonzolez, Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, President and CEO of the Glendale YMCA George Saikali, and Director of LA County Department of Children and Family Services Brandon Nichols attended and shared inspiring remarks of this collaborative partnership.
“Every young person in our community deserves opportunities to thrive, including our foster youth,” said Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D – Los Angeles).
“This partnership between the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles serves as a growing reminder to our foster youth that they are loved and thought about. We have to continue to fight for them.”
Brandon T. Nichols, Director of the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services, said this unique partnership illustrates the vital role community organizations play in uplifting children and young people.
“We are grateful that the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles has made a commitment to youth and families who need this support most,” Nichols said. “We worry a whole lot about young people in foster care aging out of our system without the necessary life skills to become successful adults. The transition to adulthood is especially challenging when youth do not have a community of caring adults who can help guide them.”
“At Los Angeles Unified, we are committed to uplifting every student, especially those who face unique challenges, like our students in foster care," LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. "The ‘You Belong: Foster Youth Initiative’ from the YMCA is a powerful example of what’s possible when we work together to build systems of support that extend beyond the school day. By bringing critical resources directly to our campuses and offering free YMCA memberships, this initiative reinforces what we want every student to know – that they are valued, and they belong. We are proud to partner in this transformative work to create a stronger, more connected future for all our students.”
“The journey of youth in foster care is often marked by constant transition and uncertainty,” said President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Victor Dominguez. “With our Centers for Community Well-Being strategically located across Los Angeles County, the Y stands ready to be a source of continuous support in their lives. When 42% of foster youth experience three different home placements in a single year, and far too many face homelessness after aging out of the system, our message is clear: You will always have a home at the Y.”
Through You Belong: FYI, youth and adults in the foster youth system now have access to free LA Y memberships, mental health support, mentorship, financial literacy, and so much more—at any LA Y locations across LA County.
