Virtue Visionary Case Study #4

Youth-Led Systems Change Model in Hamilton County

Improving Access to Transition Resources for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

Problem

Youth transitioning out of foster care often face significant challenges navigating adulthood, including securing housing, accessing education, and connecting to employment or financial support programs.

Youth leaders consistently identified a major gap during discussions with Hamilton County Job & Family Services: young people were leaving care without clear transition planning or knowledge of available resources.

While systems often placed responsibility on caregivers to help youth prepare for independence, youth leaders observed that there was little accountability or enforcement to ensure transition planning actually occurred. As a result, many young people were left to navigate multiple programs and services on their own.

Youth Insight

Members of the county youth advisory board repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of accessible information for youth approaching adulthood.

Youth leaders emphasized that even when services existed, young people often did not know:

•        which programs were available

•        when they were eligible to apply

•        how to access them

Youth also noted that many transition resources were scattered across different programs and agencies, making it difficult for youth to find information in one place.

Systems Collaboration

In response to these ongoing concerns, Hamilton County Job & Family Services shared a draft webpage of transition resources with Youth Advisory Board leadership for review.

Jay Brown and two youth leaders reviewed the draft and provided feedback to help make the information more accessible to young people.

Youth recommendations included:

•        adding clear descriptions for each resource category so youth could better understand what services might apply to them

•        organizing information in ways that reflected the real questions youth ask when transitioning to adulthood

Several recommendations were incorporated into the final version. Others, included the suggestion to provide a direct contact person for youth needing support, were not included in the final design which instead directs youth to the general Job & Family Services phone number and transition-age program email inbox monitored by staff.

System Change

Following youth review and edits, Hamilton County launched the Transition Age Youth Resource Page on the county Job & Family Services website in August 2025.

The page consolidates information about available programs and supports for youth transitioning from foster care.

Outcome

The new resource portal provides youth with one centralized location to navigate transition supports, including:

•        housing resources

•        education and financial aid programs

•        employment services

•        health and mental health supports

•        independent living programs

The site now includes 30+ resources organized across key areas of life transition.

Why This Matters

Information access is a critical component of successful transition planning for youth leaving foster care.

By consolidating resources into a single location and incorporating youth feedback on accessibility and organization, the portal helps reduce barriers young people face when trying to identify and access support services.

Role of Youth Governance

Youth leaders contributed to this effort by:

•        consistently identifying gaps in transition planning

•        advocating for clearer access to resources

•        reviewing and providing feedback on draft materials

•        ensuring information was organized in ways that reflected how youth actually seek help

Their input helped shape a resource tool intended to support young people navigating the transition from foster care to adulthood.