Join us for a look back at our powerful OYC events! From inspiring conversations to unforgettable moments of connection, this video highlights the passion and leadership of our OYC Young Leaders driving change in our community. Their voices, stories, and vision continue to shape a brighter future for all!
The Director’s Youth Advisory Council (DYAC) has received the prestigious 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the only LA County Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) program recognized this year.
The award spotlights the innovative work led directly by the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative’s (OYC) Young Leaders, who have profoundly reshaped the way Los Angeles County supports transition-age foster youth.
On March 14th, the LA Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC), in partnership with the LA City Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) and New Ways to Work (NWW), hosted The Power of Data: Strengthening Collective Strategy at the California Endowment. This convening brought together cross-sector leaders to focus on one shared challenge: addressing the crisis of disconnection among Opportunity Youth (OY)—young people ages 16–24 who are not in school or work, or who face heightened risk due to experiences with homelessness, foster care, or the justice system.
On March 1st, the OYC officially launched the 2025 Young Leaders Program Cohort with a dynamic orientation welcoming both new and returning participants. The day centered on connection, shared purpose, and momentum, as Young Leaders engaged in team-building activities, explored the program’s goals, and were introduced to the three core Program Hubs: the Foster Care Hub, Workforce Hub, and Mentoring Hub.
This year’s cohort is made up of passionate young people with lived experience who are stepping into leadership to advance meaningful systems change across Los Angeles County.
On January 31st, EWDD and OYC launched the LAP3-Horizons 32K Stewardship Board, a diverse coalition of Opportunity Youth, public agencies, educators, and community-based organizations, united to transform outcomes for Opportunity Youth across Los Angeles County. Guided by the Horizons 32K Strategic Plan, the Board convened a series of planning meetings in quarter one of 2025 to align on actionable strategies.
Campaign launched by the OYC in 2013
Convened by the Alliance for Children’s Rights and UNITE-LA
Foster Youth at Work engages public workforce and child welfare agencies in LA County in devising collaborative, systemic solutions to improve foster youth connection to work readiness training, early work experiences, and pathways to sustainable careers.
“When this campaign was first launched, only 80 foster youth were enrolling in the County’s youth jobs programs each year. This year, 866 foster youth participated in a paid work experience thanks to the collaborative leadership of LA County’s child welfare and workforce systems.”
— David Rattray
President & CEO, UNITE-LA
866 youth in foster care were placed in paid work experience, an increase of over 15% from the previous year.
