July 30, 2026
20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPOTLIGHT
"When universities, community organizations, and young people come together as partners, we can build solutions that are grounded in lived experience, informed by research, and capable of making a lasting difference. Together we can help youth not just transition to adulthood but thrive."
— Tracy Johnson, Director of Services, SMFC
In Ontario, over 7,500 youth are in the care of child welfare agencies. When they turn 18, these youth are faced with an abrupt and uncertain transition to adult independence. Even with short-term government support, they often struggle to find housing, employment, or educational options to pursue.
Without family support to fall back on, their well-being suffers: they are lonely, worried about their future, and find it difficult to form meaningful relationships with others in their communities.
Inspired by their fostering experiences, one couple providing fostering care identified the skills youth need to transition to adulthood. They created a digital program to help youth and their caregivers track skill achievements. In collaboration with the couple, the Teen Relationships Lab at York, and the REACH Lab, the program was evaluated it was found that social connections were critical to success.
"Being passionate about making a difference for better outcomes for youth in care, we believe that no young person should age out of care without the life skills, supportive relationships, and opportunities needed to thrive. And that belief is what led to the formation of The Milestone Program, to help equip youth and caregivers with practical tools, guidance, and a shared framework to help prepare for adulthood and achieve better lifelong outcomes"
- Cyrese and Roger Samuel, Foster Care Providers
Funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant, researchers in the Psychology Department and the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research are building on The Milestone Program. They have created a university-community partnership with Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions, York Region Children’s Aid Society, and CFS Counselling + Wellbeing. Together, we are working alongside former youth-in-care and child welfare staff, to co-design relationship-based tools that build strong social connections and foster the resilience to tackle the challenges of transitioning to adulthood.
Partnerships make a difference. Collaboration between researchers and community agencies is creating change for youth leaving care and building bridges to adulthood.
"Partnering with researchers, community organizations, and youth turns insight into action, using research and lived experience to advance practice and lead to better supports and brighter futures for young people.”
— Kim Sylvester, Manager of Service, Resources Child, Youth & Family Wellbeing Department, YRCAS
