Mickey Amery, Minister of Children’s Services makes announcement at press conference. (Alberta Government YouTube)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Transition to Adulthood Program

Alberta government funds program to help empower youth aging out of care

Mar 16, 2023 | 4:06 PM

Alberta’s government is investing an additional $28 million through Budget 2023 to empower youth and young adults to successfully transition out of government care and build careers.

The government is providing $25.6 million over the next three years for the Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP), which helps youth and young adults move from government care to lead successful, independent lives. The increase raises the TAP budget to $68 million for 2023-24.

Through this funding, government officials say more youth and young adults aging out of government care can continue to access the specialized, coordinated and consistent services they need for success. These services aim to help prepare them to live independently, pursue education, build their careers and maintain connections to people in their lives who can give them ongoing emotional support.

“Youth and young adults transitioning out of care deserve to have access to the same workplace opportunities and post-secondary paths as their peers. My ministry is taking action to remove the barriers they face and invest in their future so they can chase their dreams and reach their full potential,” said Mickey Amery, Minister of Children’s Services.

The provincial government says an additional $2.5 million in funding will be geared towards helping youth and young adults build a career in skill trades with training and education-related supports, such as worksite tours, mentorship programs, preparing for apprenticeship exams, career events, training, work placements and skills development.

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Advancing Futures, a component of TAP, provides funding and social supports to eligible young adults to access post-secondary education, including trades training. The initiative aims to help more young adults from care be prepared to pursue apprenticeships.

“I think this is a fantastic investment for youth and young adults aging out of care. I’m a prime example of what can happen when a youth aging out of care has the right supports in place to succeed and chase their dreams. I wouldn’t have been able to pursue a career in the trades without the support of TAP’s Advancing Futures program. I think more youth and young adults in care will pursue a trades career and in turn find long-term success in life, thanks to this initiative,” said Emilia St. Pierre, former youth who transitioned out of government care and is now a Red Seal welder and NAIT graduate.

Officials say the funding from Skilled Trades and Professions will support about 500 youth and young adults who want to build a career in the trades.

“Our government is working to ensure that youth in care have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and competencies they need to enjoy fulfilling lives and careers. I am proud of the work our government is doing to ensure youth transitioning out of care have the resources they need to enter a designated trade,” said Kaycee Madu, Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions.

Officials say that research shows young people leaving government care face challenges moving on to post-secondary education and have higher rates of homelessness and unemployment or underemployment. They add that statistics show that a youth aging out of care in Canada will earn about $326,000 less over their lifetime compared with their peers.

They say youth and young adults leaving government care have typically experienced trauma, live with mental health issues and are more likely to face discrimination and barriers to training and education.

“An investment like this can help save kids transitioning out of care. They have gone through enough hardships in life and don’t have the same connections that their peers do. These additional supports would make a huge impact in the kids’ lives and help set them up for success,” said Pat Kynock, a 30-year foster parent to more than 50 children and youth.

The Alberta government says they want to help remove some of the barriers through their funding for the Transition to Adulthood Program.