The NET Growth Movement is helping former foster youth transition into adulthood with the financial stability, personal strength, and community backing they need to thrive. Designed and founded by adults with experience in Alameda County foster care, powered by BACS, the NET Growth Movement provides a guaranteed income pilot ($1,000 per month for up to 24 months), a plethora of supports, and community-resource building. This is the first program of its kind in Alameda County, and the initial cohort is expected to start January 2023.
The NET Growth Movement pilot is premised in addressing the stark challenges that former foster youth face once they reach transition age, at which time traditional systemic support dissipates. 25% of Alameda County transition-aged youth will experience homelessness before the age of 24, while 50% of this population are unemployed by the same age. In addition, nearly 20% of Alameda County residents currently experiencing homelessness were previously involved with the foster care system (2022 Alameda County Homeless Point in Time count). And as a result of financial barriers, emotional traumas, and foster system involvement, the majority of former foster youth live in a constant state of survival, struggling to obtain basic needs without financial or familial support.
With so many negative and unintentional byproducts of growing up in the foster care system, the NET Growth Movement has come together to change the statistics – with financial assistance, coaching, mentoring, and peer support – to set these young individuals up for success and change the statistics. We choose to serve those who lack support, and we are developing pipelines, through community, to change the statistics of this population of Alameda County.
This program is provided in partnership with Alameda County Social Services Agency.
