Family And Youth Initiative Inc

Family and Youth Initiative is supporting a dedicated group of Lived Experts (young people with the lived experience of being or having been in DC foster care) who are creating a new and innovative permanency option for older youth who are in foster care. The Lived Experts are designing the "SOUL" permanency option in conjunction with professional partners, primarily at DC Child and Family Services Agency, the office of the DC Attorney General, and Children's Law Center. They are proud of having been able to use their experience and voice to create a better path out of foster care for other youth now and into the future. We are proud to be supporting them (and the other agencies) in this work.

In the Open Table program, we recruit, train, and match six to eight volunteers with one young adult who has aged out of foster care. Tables build relationships with the young person (or "Friend") and support them in achieving whatever goal/s they set for themselves. Tables meet weekly for a year. Some Friends and volunteers continue in their relationships after the formal Table year ends.

The Fund for Critical Youth Needs is used to ensure DCFYI youth are able to cover critical needs like housing, transportation, medications, and/or job-related expenses (including clothing and transportation until they receive a first paycheck.