Foster Youth in Action

Foster Youth in Action builds a movement of foster youth leaders and youth-led organizations that empower their peers to create just systems and supportive communities for generations to come. FYA believes that young people who’ve experienced the foster care system have a right to be involved in transforming the system; that young people’s knowledge, wisdom and expertise is essential for systems change; and that organizing transforms not only the communities and systems it targets, but those young people who participate in this powerful, healing process. 

Established in 2008 by foster youth organizers and adult partners at California Youth Connection -- one of the oldest independent foster youth led organizing groups in the US -- who saw the promise of a national network of youth-led groups. Starting with partners in California and Oregon, FYA now has 25 current and pending partners in 21 states. Drawing on a youth organizing approach, FYA trains and equips foster youth to be strong leaders and organizers; grows the capacity of of local, grassroots groups to engage a broad base of youth working for justice; and connects and elevates a national community of change agents and their issue priorities.