INTRODUCTION
Young People who have experienced forester care – a population of more than 1 million youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 16 – have a unique set of skills, interests , and challenges they bring to their working lives. This population of young people have navigated a complex set of systems at an early age, acquiring skills that are easily transferable to a workplace communication , problem-solving, managing upwards, and goal-setting, among others. This offers employers a potentially untapped labor pool that is motivated and ready to contribute in a supportive work environment. For these young people, entry into work can also be accompanied by a additional challenges resulting from inconsistent educational supports and a lack of dedicated support for work experiences and career exploration while in care. By age 21, just 57% report being employed at a full or part-time basis.
Particularly because of the challenges that accompany foster care, namely, being separated from family, and in many instances, school and community, young people seek a workplace that offers belonging connection, and well-being; a place where they can contribute their talents in an environment that sees them both as workers and members of the broader community in which they live. In many ways, the needs if young people that have experienced foster care offers a window into what all young people seek in a workplace, and what supports them to contribute their skills and perspectives. In the complexity of today’s society, creating the conditions for well-being are increasingly important in contexts like workplaces where young people spend significant time.