Fostering Connections
Fostering Connections offers a combination of services and support available to young people currently in the foster care system as well as those aging out from 18- 26. These voluntary services help youth successfully transitioning to adulthood. These services may include a number of resources including financial literacy, housing, job finding opportunities, educational support, etc.
Development of Life Skills
- Transitional Planning
- Leadership Development
- LUVYA Advocacy Group
- Credit Reports
Benefits
- Tuition and Fee Waiver
- Medicaid
- Start-Up Funds
- Education & Training Voucher Funds
Development Opportunities
- Housing Programs
- Housing First Maintenance Payment
Programs
- Extended Foster Care
- Adoption & Guardianship Extended Subsidy & Support
- EMS Corps Program
What is Fostering Connections
Fostering Connections is a combination of services and supports available to young people who are currently in the foster care system and those 18-26 who have recently left foster care. These voluntary services and supports enable CYFD to provide a strengths-based approach and financial assistance to aid in a successful transition to adulthood.
Supports & Services
- A coaching approach to case management that provides a structured, yet flexible framework
- Partnership with young people to promote self-sufficiency through the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities
- Provided benefits including Medicaid, educational funding, and housing/transition support
- Offer development opportunities to support their journey into adulthood to advance outcomes around permanency, housing, education, and financial stability.
Prevention & Intervention Programs
- Comprehensive Individualized Support: Individualized approach to each young person’s needs
- Leaders Uniting Voices, Youth Advocates of New Mexico (LUVYANM): Advocacy by and for young leaders with lived experience in resource foster care
- Housing Programs: A continuum of developmentally appropriate and identity-affirming housing supports
- Transitional Living for Young Adults (TYLA)
- Transitions Supportive Housing (TSH)
- Foster Youth Independence (FYI)
- Family Unification Program (FUP)
- Building Young Peoples’ Networks: Staff and youth collaborate to educate community providers
- Extension of Resource Foster Care: Support for youth 18-21 years old to advance permanency, housing, educational, and financial outcomes
- Emergency Medical Services Corps (EMS): Provides support and training for careers in the field of allied health services
- Extended Adoption/Guardianship Subsidy: Extends resource foster family subsidy payments to aid with transition to adulthood
Our Values
- Works together with young people to help them become stronger, supporting them as they grow from struggling to doing well.
- Ensures everyone is treated fairly, no matter their race or background, and works to change the systems that are unfair to young people.
- Believes that family, relatives, and communities matter – and that young people can decide what family means to them.
- Maintains that young people know best what help they need and how to make our systems better.
- Guarantees all interactions with young people consider their past experiences and current needs.
- Works closely with young people and their families honestly and openly, based on trust and respect.
- Hires and keeps staff and volunteers who know how to help young people grow and build their strengths.
- Thinks that young people in our care should have a chance to experience being a teenager, even if they make mistakes and need help to try again.
- Focuses on what young people are good at and want to achieve, not punishing their mistakes.
- Helps young people lead changes in their schools, communities, and society.
Get Connected!
Talk with your Fostering Connections Specialist for more information about your options.
