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 to school or do job training, or attend rehabilitation, mental health, or life skills programs.
To apply for an agreement, you must be between 19 and 26 years old, 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.
Or Apply Now
Money To Help
The AYA program provides up to a maximum of $1,250 per month to cover living expenses while you go to school or do job training, or attend rehabilitation, mental health, or life skills programs.
These living expenses include things like food and housing for you and your children if you have any.
- AgedOut.com
- StudentAidBC: Grants and scholarships
- Public Guardian and Trustee Educational Assistance Fund
- Aging Out of Foster Care
Location |
Program |
Organization |
Area |
---|---|---|---|
Campbell River |
Aboriginal Life Skills Program |
Laichwilthach Family Life |
North Vancouver Island |
Campbell River |
Foundry Campbell River |
The John Howard Society of North Island |
North Vancouver Island |
Courtenay | The Station - Supported Independent Living | The John Howard Society of North Island Contact Information |
North Vancouver Island |
New Westminster |
The Link |
Aunt Leah's PLace |
North Fraser |
Surrey | Supported Youth Independent Housing Program (SYIH) | Options Community Services Contact Information |
South Fraser |
North Vancouver | Life Success Program | Hollyburn Family Services Society Contact Information |
Coast North Shore |
Vancouver | Covenant House | 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 |
Whistler |
Work 2 Live |
Coast/North Shore |
|
Kelowna |
The Essentials Program |
New Opportunities for Women Canada Society (NOW |
Okanagan |
Prince George |
AiMHi |
Prince George Community Living Association |
North Central |
Prince George |
Bridging to Employment Program: Life Skills to Success |
Carrier Sekani Family Services |
North Central |
Kamloops | Safe Suites | A Way Home Kamloops Society Contact Information |
Thompson, Cariboo, Shuswap |
Victoria | Prana Services Inc. Life Skills and Outreach Program | Prana Services Inc. | Vancouver Island |
Length of an Agreement
Through discussion with a worker, the length of your agreement will be worked out based on your needs and the program you are on. You can have more than one agreement, for a total of up to 48 months (4 years) of support.
For example, you could:
- Attend a life-skills or rehabilitation program for six months with AYA support
- Work for a year without an AYA
- Then, go back to school and enter into another AYA
AYAs do not extend past the day of your 27th birthday.
Apply for an Agreement
- 60% course load in an educational or skills training program (40% if you have a permanent disability)
- A minimum of 5 hours a week participation in a rehabilitation program (i.e. mental health or substance use program including cultural healing and wellness)
- Any combination of educational, skills training, life-skills and/or rehabilitation program time that equals at least 5 hours a week
- An approved life skills program
- A minimum of 5 hours a week participation in an individualized life skills program focusing one or more of the following domains: education, health and wellness, financial literacy, social skills, employment, housing, and cultural learning and connection
We know that sometimes the system requirements are too demanding for young people to meet - for example, the course load requirement can be too challenging. If young adults need additional flexibility, ministry or Delegated Aboriginal Agency (DAA) workers are ready to help.