NYC Expands Programs Linking Foster Youth to Free College, Coaches, Career Opportunities

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Jess Dannhauser have announced a major expansion of programs designed to help youth in foster care access college, vocational training, and long-term career opportunities.

The initiative — which fulfills a key commitment in Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City address — includes scaling up three major ACS programs: Fair Futures, College Choice, and the newly launched Career Choice. The city’s investment of $163 million over five fiscal years will support a total of 8,000 young people across five youth-focused programs.

According to City Hall, the Fair Futures program, which provides one-on-one coaching, tutoring, and life-planning support for youth in foster care or the juvenile justice system, will grow from serving 4,000 young people to 6,000 — a 50 percent increase. The program offers academic guidance, career development, housing assistance, and independent living support.

The College Choice program — launched by Mayor Adams in 2022 to ensure that foster youth can attend two- or four-year colleges tuition-free while receiving room and board support and daily stipends — will also expand. Enrollment will increase from 430 to 530 students. City data shows significant progress: in 2024, more than 400 students were enrolled, up from 200 two years earlier, and 66 percent maintained a GPA above 2.0.

The city also unveiled a new initiative, Career Choice, which will provide stipends, financial assistance, and coaching to foster youth pursuing vocational programs, trade schools, or workforce development paths that do not require traditional college enrollment. The program will support roughly 400 young people.

Mayor Adams described the expansion as part of his broader agenda to improve affordability and opportunity for young New Yorkers. “By helping our most vulnerable — our young New Yorkers in foster care — access college and career opportunities, we are putting money back in the pockets of future generations,” he said.

ACS Commissioner Dannhauser emphasized the importance of meeting youth where they are, regardless of whether they choose academic or vocational paths. “All young people deserve our support, and when we deliver for them, they thrive and deliver for their communities,” he said.

Youth advocates and partner organizations, including the Center for Fair Futures, New York Foundling, New Yorkers for Children, and The Children’s Village, praised the city’s expanded investment.

New York City is currently the only major U.S. city providing dedicated coaches to all foster youth ages 11–26. Officials say the expanded programs will deepen support networks and help more young people in foster care transition successfully into adulthood.