New Fostering the Future Website Connects Young People to Resources

Housing. College. Work. Health care. The next step starts with knowing where to look.

Planning for the future can bring big questions: Where will I live? How will I pay for school? Who can help me find a job? or even figure out just what comes next?

For young people with foster care experience or independent student status, finding support should not mean having to piece together every answer alone.

The new Fostering the Future website, launched by the Administration on Friday, October 30, offers a starting point. The site connects young people to resources related to housing, employment, education, health care, and mentoring, with an emphasis on planning for life after foster care.

A place to explore and take the next step

Fostering the Future allows visitors to search for resources by ZIP code and develop a plan based on what they find. No login is required to explore available options, making it possible to start browsing without creating an account.

Alongside its resource search, the website includes learning materials on practical topics such as starting a job search, understanding credit, and exploring Foster Youth to Independence housing vouchers. These materials offer another entry point for young people who are still figuring out which questions to ask.

The website is in its first phase of development, with opportunities to share feedback expected in the coming weeks.

Thinking about college? Look for support beyond admission

Finding resources is an important step. For young people considering college or who are already enrolled another question matters just as much: Who will be in my corner once I get there?

At NRC-FAHE, we want students with foster care experience to know that higher education support can extend beyond an acceptance letter or a financial aid award.

Our Campus Support Programs page brings together information about campus-based programs for students with foster care experience and other independent students. Depending on the program, support may include academic advising, mentoring, help navigating financial aid and housing, career planning, and opportunities to build community.

These programs are not just about navigating college systems. They can also offer caring people, shared experiences, and a place to connect so students do not have to navigate college alone.

Two resources to bookmark and share

Whether you are exploring your own options or supporting a young person, these websites offer two places to begin:

• Fostering the Future: Explore resources and learning materials focused on the transition from foster care.

• NRC-FAHE’s Campus Support Programs page: Find information about campus-based support and other pathways and resources for navigating higher education.

For educators, advocates, child welfare professionals, and campus partners, consider sharing these links in a student conversation, resource guide, advising appointment, or newsletter.

As Fostering the Future grows, we encourage our members to reach out to hello@fosteringthefuture.gov and highlight resources that help young people with foster care experience explore higher education. Campus support programs are supported by evidence and deserve a place in that conversation because they help students connect with resources, build relationships, and a sense of belonging as they navigate college. NRC-FAHE’s campus support program directory offers a practical starting point for finding these programs and helping young people see what’s possible.

Because planning for the future should mean more than figuring out what comes next.

It should mean having support along the way.