Agreements with Young Adults

If you’ve been in foster care or had a Youth Agreement, you may qualify for the Agreements with a Young Adult (AYA) program to help cover the cost of things like housing, child care, tuition and health care while you go back to school, or attend rehabilitation, vocational or approved life skills program.

Beginning April 1, 2018:

  • To apply for an agreement, you must be 19 years old to 26 inclusive, not past the day of your 27th birthday.
  • The government increased the upper age by one year as part of an announcement in Budget 2018 to make eligibility up to 26 inclusive, until the day of your 27th birthday.

To apply for an agreement, you must be at least 19, and on your 19th birthday were in one of the following care arrangements:

  • The custody of a director or permanent custody of the Superintendent
  • The guardianship of a director of adoption
  • The guardianship of a director under the Family Relations Act
  • A Youth Agreement

If you believe you may be eligible for the program, please contact your local Ministry of Children and Family Development office.

You can reach your local Ministry of Children and Family Development office by calling 250-387-7027 or toll-free: 1-877-387-7027.

Money To Help

As part of Budget 2018, and coming into effect as of April 1, 2018, the government increased needs-based funding for AYA by $250 and up to a maximum of $1,250 per month for those eligible.

Payments were extended to a full calendar year, up to a maximum of 48 months (4 years), if needed.

In most cases, an AYA will cover living expenses while you go to school or attend a rehabilitation, vocational or approved life skills program.

These living expenses include things like: Basic needs (e.g. food and housing) for you and your children if you have any. 

Education and skills training programs: Tuition and other expenses are generally covered by the Youth Education Assistance Fund (YEAF) or the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program . If not, an AYA may help pay for your books, uniforms, and any other expenses required by the education program.
Find out about other financial aid options for education and training:
Rehabilitation programs: An AYA can support you while you attend a mental health or addictions program. If you've completed a residential treatment program for alcohol and drug use and now require support to keep from relapsing, a post-treatment support program can be part of your plan. Your worker can help you create a strategy for doing this.
 
Life Skills programs:  You can be participating in an approved Life Skills program while on AYA.  Life Skills Programs are intended to help you to gain the needed skills and provide hands-on guidance in life skills like financial literacy, time management, decision-making and problem solving in order to achieve your goals.  A  worker can help you to understand the life skills that you wish to learn and to develop a plan.
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Ministry Approved Life Skills Program List

Location

Program

Organization

Area

Abbotsford

Autumn House

Abbotsford Community Services
Contact Information

Fraser East

Campbell River

Aboriginal Life Skills Program

Laichwilthach Family Life
Contact Information

North Vancouver Island

Campbell River

Foundry Campbell River

The John Howard Society of North Island
Contact Information

North Vancouver Island

Kelowna

The Essentials Program

New Opportunities for Women Canada Society (NOW)
Contact Information

Okanagan

Kelowna

Bridge Youth & Family Services

The Bridge Services
Contact Information

Okanagan

North Vancouver

Life Success Program

Hollyburn Family Services Society
Contact Information

Coast North Shore

Prince George

AiMHi

Prince George Community Living Association
(CLBC referred clients only)
Contact Information

North Central

Prince George

Bridging to Employment Program: Life Skills to Success

Carrier Sekani Family Services
Contact Information

North Central

Salmon Arm

Life Skills for Youth in Shuswap

Aspiral Youth Partners Association
Contact Information

Thompson Cariboo

Smithers

Youth Empowerment Program

Smithers Community Services Association
Contact Information

North West

Squamish

SSCS Road Maps Program: Life Skills for Young Adults (AYA)

Sea to Sky Community Services
Contact Information

Coast North Shore

Surrey

Steps 2 Independence

Life Skills Therapy
Contact Information

Fraser South

Surrey

Supported Youth Independent Housing Program (SYIH)

Options Community Services
Contact Information

Fraser South

Vancouver

Rights of Passage

Covenant House Vancouver
Contact Information

Vancouver Richmond

Vancouver

Youth Housing Services

Pacific Community Resources Society
Contact Information

Vancouver Richmond

Vancouver

Strive

YWCA Metro Vancouver
Contact Information

Vancouver Richmond

Victoria

Osanis Youth Hub

Osanis Counselling and Consulting Inc.
Contact Information

South Vancouver Island

 

 

Apply for an Agreement

Step 1: Four to six weeks before the program you're interested in begins, complete an application form (PDF). In the section "Program and Support Need" describe the program you'd like to take and what kind of financial assistance or other support you may need.
 
Step 2: Mail or drop off your application form:
Step 3: Within two weeks, a social worker will contact you to prepare a written plan together that explains your goals and the support you need to reach them.
Besides outlining what the provincial government or social worker will do to help you with your plan, this meeting will also outline what's expected of you. For example, you will need to complete one of the following requirements:
  • 60% course load in an educational or skills training program (40% if you have a permanent disability)
  • A minimum of 15 hours a week participation in a rehabilitation program
  • A combination of educational / skills training and rehabilitation program time that equals at least 15 hours a week
  • An approved life skills program that is at least 12 hours a week (or 48 hours per month)
Aboriginal young adults with a plan that meets AYA criteria can ask for support from their band or tribal council – they may be able to assist with funding. If not, you can enter into an AYA if you're living on or off a reserve.

Length of an Agreement

You can have more than one AYA.  For example, you could:
  • Attend a training program for six months with AYA support
  • Work for a year without an AYA
  • Then, go back to school and enter into another AYA
Here are the criteria for how long you can be on an AYA:
  • AYAs can last for up to six months at a time
  • The total amount of time you have for being on AYAs is 48 months
  • AYAs can’t extend past the age of 26 inclusive, until the day of your 27th birthday.