Who is the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth?
If you’re a young person in foster care, or someone who works with them, you’ve probably heard the term “aging out”. It’s the moment when a young person officially leaves the foster care system, often around age 18 or 21, depending on the state.
For too many, aging out means stepping into adulthood without enough support. That’s where the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth (NCTAY) comes in.
Who We Are
The National Collaborative on Transition Age Youth (NCTAY) is a partnership between FosterClub, the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), and Youth Villages. For the past year and a half, we have been working to unite young leaders with lived experience in foster care, child welfare professionals, and national partners to create real solutions for those leaving care. Because survival isn’t enough. Youth deserve the tools, resources, and opportunities to thrive, and their voices should lead the way in shaping change.
Meet the team of eight FosterClub Lived Experience (LEx) Leaders who have been part of the Collaborative since the beginning.
What We've Been Doing
“[This was a] collaboration between lived experts and people in child welfare. Us coming together and sharing our ideas and different perspectives with each other – not just on a local level, but on a national level.”
— Dina Santos, they/them, spent 3 years in Florida foster care system
NCTAY connects:
- Young leaders who’ve experienced foster care
- System leaders and professionals who can influence policy and practice
- National partners who can help drive change across the country
Together, we design and share co-created and youth-centered strategies to help make the transition to adulthood smoother, safer, and more supported.
One of NCTAY’s key tools is Improving Outcomes for Young Adults and the Systems that Serve Them: A Playbook of Best Practices, a comprehensive guide built from the insight of young people and system leaders and professionals, designed for everyone from policymakers to caseworkers to peers. It’s full of real-world ideas for improving housing, education, mental health support, and more for transition-age young people.
Our First Year in Action
Since launching, NCTAY has been actively building momentum and engaging people nationwide. Over the past year and a half, we’ve:
- Presented workshops on the Collaborative and Playbook at national conferences including:
- APHSA’s 2024 Human Services Summit
- Youth Villages’ Achieving Success 2024
- CWLA 2025
- APHSA’s 2025 Human Services Summit
- Hosted a national survey for young people with lived experience in foster care to share their insights on Extended Foster Care with over 400 responses.
- Facilitated focus groups on Extended Foster Care, gathering deeper perspectives from young people to inform the Playbook and future recommendations.
These activities have helped raise awareness, gather valuable input, and ensure the Playbook reflects both lived experience and professional expertise.
Why It Matters
When young people leave foster care, the stakes are high. Without strong support systems, they face greater risks of homelessness, unemployment, and mental health struggles. But when the right people work together to center young people’s voices, systems can change for the better.
The National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth is here to make sure that happens.
To receive a copy of the playbook when it’s released, make sure you sign up for FosterClub email updates.