(Posted 2026 July)
The Fostering Futures Team in Fairfax County Foster Care is doing amazing things to support older youth and young adults in care (ages 14-25 years old). They are tailoring their services to the kids’ interests and developing amazing relationships with community partners!
This spring, Fostering Futures hosted an In-Person Education Expo. It’s the first of its kind in Fairfax, and it was developed after identifying a gap for opportunities for youth in foster care to learn about education, job training, and vocational careers.
The team brought numerous partners together at the expo to share about their educational opportunities including Le Arai Beauty and Barber Academy, Kitchen of Purpose, Fairfax County Solid Waste Management, WIOA (Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act), Don’t Go Alone, Adult Learning with Fairfax County Public Schools, NVFS, ProjectLIFE, GUTTS Plumbing, Great Expectations, Georgetown University – Ophthalmic Medical Personnel Training Program, Northern Virginia Community College, and more.
There was also a table with information about the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) funds designed to help eligible youth and young adults who are in or who have been in foster care to continue their education or job training after completing high school or their GED.
The in-person education and vocation fair was well attended, and it made an impact on the youth who attended, providing avenues for their futures that some youth had never considered. In addition, there was a virtual version of the fair later in the month for those who couldn’t make it that day.
Emily Quijano, Fostering Futures specialist explained, “We were motivated by our mission to break education barriers for our youth and help them connect to vocational programs and foster-youth specific supports that can help them go far! We were overwhelmed by the support of the vocational education community in the Northern Virginia area and by the youth attendees who were able to learn firsthand about different careers and education paths for their futures."
“I’m always amazed at the Fostering Futures Team’s creativity and passion for working with our older youth and setting them up for success,” said Julie Bowman, program manager with Foster Care and Adoption Resource and Support. “Putting together an expo requires critical thinking, planning, and collaborating with partners to pull it off.”
This event highlights the meaningful support youth in care receive from county staff to help them be successful. If you are interested in ways to support youth in foster care, you can learn more here or email us.