Agreements with Young Adults
Last updated on April 4, 2024Please note: Effective April 4, 2024, the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program will begin to be phased out and replaced by the Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE) program. Young adults currently on AYAs will continue to receive supports until their agreement ends, after which they can transition to the SAJE Income Support.
What this means for you:
- Starting today, no new AYAs will be signed; SAJE Income Support is now available.
- If you are on an AYA now, your existing agreement remains in place.
- When your AYA ends, you may transition to a SAJE Income Support.
SAJE provides support to young people with government care experience until the age of 27. For more information about the SAJE program, including income supports, please visit gov.bc.ca/SAJE. To find out which SAJE supports and benefits you are eligible for:
- call 1-866-3623, 3001 or
- email MCF.SAJE@gov.bc.ca
The information below applies to current AYAs only.
Historic AYA Information
If you’ve been in foster care or had a Youth Agreement, you may have qualified for the Agreements with a Young Adult (AYA) program to help cover the cost of things like housing, childcare, 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 have been between 19 and 26 years old, and on your 19th birthday were in one of the following care arrangements:
- received support services or financial assistance, or both, under section 12.2 of the Act,
- was in the continuing custody of a director, or
- was in the guardianship of a director of adoption or of a director under section 51 of the Infants Act.
Money To Help
Please note, you may continue on an AYA until it ends. The SAJE program is available to support eligible young adults. See more information about additional supports below and on the SAJE web page here.
The Provincial Tuition Waiver Program waives tuition and eligible fees for B.C students who are current or former youth in care studying full- or part-time at the undergraduate level at a B.C. public post-secondary institution, the Native Education College, or one of the approved union-based trades training providers. The Learning for Future Grant provides an annual grant of $3,500 per program year to students who meet the eligibility requirements for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program to assist with additional education related costs that are not covered by the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (e.g. textbooks, computers, supplies, etc.).
Find out about other financial aid options for education and training:
Rehabilitation programs: An AYA can support you while you attend a rehabilitation program such as a mental health, addictions or substance use program, or a cultural healing and wellness program.
Life skills programs: An AYA can support you while you take a self-directed or facilitated life skills program. Life skills programs are meant to help you to gain skills and provide hands-on guidance in things like managing your money, time management, decision-making and problem solving so that you can achieve your goals. A worker can help you to understand the life skills that you want to learn and to develop a plan. If you are not on an AYA but are looking for support, see the SAJE page here for more information on SAJE supports.
Rent Supplement program: The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) is working to improve housing supports for young adults. We want youth transitioning to adulthood to have the supports, tools and relationship-based networks they need to thrive. Learn more about MCFD's Rent Supplement program where eligible young adults (aged 19-26) may apply for a $600-a-month rent supplement for up to 2 years.
Length of an Agreement
AYA was available for a total of up to 84 months (7 years) of support or up to your 27th birthday.
Aging Out of Foster Care in BC?
Moving out on your own and becoming an adult also means you will have to begin making more of your own decisions. Learn more about the services and programs there to help empower you during this transition.
Contact:
SAJE Provincial Support Services
Phone: 1-866-623-3001
If you're between 14 and 24 years old, meet up with others who know what it's like to be in care.
Aboriginal teens from 16 to 19 years old are invited to learn life skills with a coach.
If you are a child or youth and would like to talk to someone call the Helpline for Children at 310-1234.
You do not need an area code. You can call at any time of the day or night and you do not have to give your name.
You can also get help from: