Transition in Resources, Relationships, and Understanding Support Together
Collective impact is an approach to addressing complex social issues that involves bringing together governments, service providers, and community members to work collaboratively towards long-lasting change. It recognizes that systems change requires the commitment, shared vision, and collective action of people across different sectors.
First introduced in 2011 by John Kania and Mark Kramer, collective impact initiatives require five key conditions for success:
A common agenda
Shared measurement systems
Mutually reinforcing activities
Continuous communication
Backbone support organizations
In British Columbia, when a youth in care (e.g., in a foster home, group home) turns 19 years old, they formally transition or ‘age out’ out of the government care system. This means that the financial and emotional supports that youth previously relied on are often lost. While 92% of parents in BC continue to provide their children with some form of support after they turn 19, whether financial, emotional, or material (Fostering Change, 2016), many youth who have left government care are not able to rely on such supports and often experience financial hardship and problems finding and maintain housing. For example, 29% of young people report that aging out of care led to their first experience with homelessness or housing insecurity (Representative for Children and Youth, 2020).
TRRUST’s work centres on closing gaps in support and ensuring that young people with care experience thrive. TRRUST affirms that youth in care deserve a transition into adulthood that is as extended and supported as that of their peers and we are dedicated to making this a reality.
