At StepStones for Youth, we believe every young person deserves the chance to thrive.
Our vision is simple: all youth should have access to the tools they need to graduate high school, go on to post-secondary education or meaningful work, find stable housing, get the mental health support they need, and feel a strong sense of belonging.
But the reality is, youth aging out of foster care face serious barriers. Compared to their peers, they’re more likely to experience poverty, lower graduation rates, unstable employment, homelessness, poor mental health, and isolation.
Our programs are designed to change that. Through wrap-around support and regular check-ins, we track each young person’s progress and use what we learn to make our programs even stronger. We collect data when youth join us and every six months after, helping us understand what’s working—and where we need to do more.
Here are a few changes we’ve made recently based on what youth have told us and what the data shows:
The Importance of Connection
Our experience has shown that even when young people in the child welfare system receive education, housing, and mental health support, it’s not enough on its own. Without strong, long-term relationships with caring adults—like extended family, mentors, and community allies—many still struggle to move forward.
At StepStones, we take a relational approach. Our programs are designed to help youth build lasting connections with people who reflect their identities and lived experiences. These relationships are key to healing, belonging, and long-term success.
We also know that many youth from foster care are disconnected from their cultural roots. That’s why we support them in reconnecting with their communities, reclaiming their identities, and finding adults they can trust—not just for a program, but for life.
The gap we fill is clear: reducing isolation and disconnection by helping youth build real relationships with people who are already in their lives—or want to be—but need support to show up in meaningful ways.
Numbers of Connections for Youth
When we first launched our connections-based programming, we drew from evidence-based models—like one that showed over 100 potential adult connections could be identified for a child within 30 days of entering care. But we quickly learned this didn’t reflect the realities of older youth in foster or group homes.
Many of the young people we work with have experienced trauma, instability, and years of institutional care. Reconnecting with extended family or building new relationships isn’t easy—and pushing for 100 connections often felt overwhelming and unhelpful.
So, we shifted our approach. Instead of focusing on large numbers, we focused on building meaningful relationships. We reduced our goals to 50 connections and a circle of support of five trusted adults (instead of eight). This allowed us to go deeper, not just wider—and the results have been powerful.
We also know the work doesn’t stop once a youth is matched with a mentor or family member. Building trust and a strong support network takes time, and we continue walking alongside youth as they expand those circles.
Group vs Individual Work
When we started doing connections-based work, we used group retreats to help youth build trust and connect with peers early on. But we learned that group settings don’t always feel safe for sharing personal histories—especially for youth who’ve experienced trauma.
That’s why we shifted to a one-on-one model. Our Connection Coordinators now work directly with each young person, helping them explore their past and map out important relationships in a private, supportive space. This approach builds trust, creates stronger connections, and leads to better long-term outcomes.
We still run group retreats—and while they’re not used for personal history work, they’re a powerful way to boost confidence, build camaraderie, and help youth feel part of a supportive community.
Stable Housing in a Rental Crisis
At StepStones, we know that stable, affordable housing is key for youth to succeed in school, improve their mental health, and build a better future. That’s why we prioritize long-term housing support for young people at high risk of homelessness.
Over the past year, fewer subsidized housing options and a tough rental market in Toronto made it harder for youth to secure safe, stable homes. In response, we expanded our housing subsidy program by offering portable housing grants—a grant that allows youth to continue to receive support regardless of where they choose to live. Next year, we’re taking it national, partnering with organizations across Canada to help reduce youth homelessness from coast to coast.
Consistency for a Strong Sense of Belonging
Youth involved in child welfare often grow up with loss, instability, and disconnection from family and community. At StepStones, we know that rebuilding trust and identity takes time—and consistent, welcoming spaces.
That’s why we began hosting weekly community dinners every Tuesday. These evenings offer more than just a home-cooked meal. They’re a chance for youth to connect with caring adults, discover StepStones programs, and spend time with peers in a safe, supportive space.
There’s always food, conversation, arts activities, and even door prizes. Youth tell us it feels “like something a family would do”—and that sense of routine and community helps build confidence, self-worth, and connection.
Strengthening Employment Support
Even with rental subsidies, many youth leaving care are still unable to cover the full cost of housing. The missing piece? Steady, meaningful employment.
Through feedback sessions with both youth and staff, we heard this message resoundingly: more support is needed to help young people find and keep good jobs. Many face barriers like discrimination, mental health challenges, or a lack of experience that make it difficult to enter the workforce.
That’s why we’re exploring the addition of an employment-focused staff role to provide one-on-one support with job searching, applications, resume building, and workplace readiness. We’re also looking at partnerships to create accessible pathways into training and employment.
Our goal is to help youth not just survive—but thrive—with the tools and income they need for long-term stability.
Increasing Food Security
Rising food costs make it tough for youth leaving foster care to meet basic needs like food and safety. StepStones helps by offering an emergency food pantry stocked with donations, weekly community dinners with take-home meals, and grocery gift cards distributed to youth for fresh food.
We also run cooking workshops with professional chefs to build skills and confidence in the kitchen. This year, we’ll host community food events celebrating the winter holidays, Black History Month, and more.
Our Connection Coordinators use these programs to connect with youth, talk about nutrition, and build trusting relationships.
Housing Grants for School Success
Youth from foster care often have the same dreams of college or university as their peers—but face far more obstacles getting there. While StepStones once offered education bursaries, we found that financial support had no positive impact on whether or not a youth went to school.
Our evaluations showed that stable housing is what truly makes the difference. Without it, youth often drop out of school to pay rent, putting them at risk of homelessness, trafficking, and long-term instability.
That’s why we shifted our focus from tuition support to student housing grants—and it’s working. We continue to offer these housing subsidies to help youth stay in school and build a secure future.
