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A new provincial government website is now available to help current and former youth in government care navigate the many challenges that can arise as they transition to adulthood.
The website, AgedOut.com, showcases services and supports for young people preparing to leave government care and those who have already made the transition. AgedOut.com also brings to light common experiences through videos of former youth in care.
Photo Credit: BC Government Flickr.
Approximately 700 young people age out of government care every year, and thanks to a $500,000 investment from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Adoptive Families Association of B.C., and the Federation of B.C. Youth in Care Networks, youth in British Columbia will now have the resources to ensure a successful future. The website is the result of nearly two years of research, planning, and development.
“‘How do I get a job?’ ‘Where am I going to live?’ These are the types of questions we all faced when we became adults. But for those in the care in the ministry, the transition can be much more challenging. We know young people go online to find answers to many of life’s questions and this website is intended to speak directly to them—it was truly designed by and for our youth in and from care,” said Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development.
The interactive website also provides users with fun, gaming “Quests,” where youth can earn rewards for completing real-world challenges related to:
- Renting an apartment or finding subsidized housing
- How to get a bank account
- How to find a job or prepare for an interview
- How to apply for medical insurance or get a driver’s license
- How to get a phone
- Important life skills such as how to handle an abusive relationship or a tough conversation.
The website will be promoted through a series of launch events during B.C. Child and Youth in Care week, June 1st to 7th. At these events, youth and young adults will have the option to explore the website, attend cooking demos, and access elements of WorkBC's Find Your Fit program.
All youth aged 14-24 in and from ministry care are encouraged to attend the AgedOut.com launch event in Kelowna on June 2nd. The event will be held at UBC Okanagan in the Multipurpose Ballroom between 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To check out the new AgedOut.com website, click here.
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