Texas First Lady and Texas Workforce Commissioner of Employers Collaborate to Help Transitioning Youth in Foster Care

Transition centers provide colocation opportunities for local partners . . . to help them jointly serve the diverse needs of the youth in one location.

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas — Every person counts, especially kids in foster care. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott continues to bring awareness for the needs and support of this population. She and Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson will meet with employers, community advocates and the Texas Workforce Commission at a foster youth transition center in Austin, Texas.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) provides funding and support services to 18 foster care youth transition centers across the state of Texas, which help foster youth ages 16 to 25 overcome obstacles to employment opportunities. TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson is touring each facility and inviting major employers to assist foster youth that are aging out of the system with employment career opportunities.

The Foster Youth Transition Center press event will take place in Austin, Texas at LifeWorks Austin at 835 North Pleasant Valley on March 3rd from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with an optional tour from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for attendees. Employers, educators, community partners and transition center workforce advocates will be in attendance.

According to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), in Fiscal Year 2018 17,500 youth resided in foster care in Texas. Of that number, on average 900 children in Texas age out of the system each year. TWC has funded multiple transition centers since 2008 in an effort to provide a central clearinghouse of one-stop services to serve the diverse needs of older foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, or other at-risk youth from age 15 and a half to age 25. 

Transition centers are designed to serve as host locations for services such as Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) services, job readiness and job search assistance, career exploration, higher education enrollment assistance, food and housing assistance, and mentoring. Transition centers provide colocation opportunities for local partners such as local Workforce Solutions staff, TWC-funded workforce advocates, and colleges and universities to help them jointly serve the diverse needs of the youth in one location.

The 18 transition centers are independently funded, operated, and supported by partnerships between DFPS, the DFPS providers, community partners and TWC. A list of TWC sponsored transition centers can be found at https://twc.texas.gov/foster-youth-transition-centers

Who: Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott
Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson

When: Tuesday, March 3rd
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Press Event
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Optional Tour of Foster Youth Transition Center

Where: LifeWorks Austin
Sooch Foundation East Austin Youth and Family Resource Center
835 North Pleasant Valley
Austin, Texas 78702