Be the Friend who changes everything.
TAY Friends connects caring adults with young people ages 18–21 who are aging out of foster care — not as coaches or case managers, but as real, consistent, human connections
1,100+
youth age out of foster care annually in LA County
40%
become homeless within 2 years of aging out
1 person
is often all it takes to change the outcome
What is the TAY Friends Initiative?
When young people leave the foster care system at 18, they often do so without a safety net — no family to call when rent is overdue, no one to celebrate a first job, no trusted adult to talk through life decisions with. The transition to adulthood is hard for everyone. For foster youth, it can feel like stepping off a cliff alone.
TAY Friends is Reconcile Long Beach's answer to that gap. It's a one-year mentorship program that pairs transition-age youth (TAY) — young adults ages 18 to 21 who are current or former foster youth — with caring local adults from our community. This isn't case management. It's not job training. It's not about fixing anyone.
It's about friendship, consistency, and the kind of support that comes from someone who genuinely shows up — month after month, for a full year.
TAY Friends are trained and supported throughout the program. Matches meet at least once a month and stay in touch in between. The goal is simple: a relationship. Because a relationship is what changes lives.
Why It Matters
Young adults who age out of foster care face some of the steepest odds of any population. Without intervention, they are significantly more likely to experience housing instability, unemployment, and involvement with the justice system. But studies consistently show that the single greatest protective factor is a consistent, caring adult relationship.
Housing Stability
Former foster youth with mentor support show dramatically lower rates of homelessness and housing insecurity in early adulthood.
Education and Employment
A consistent adult connection increases the likelihood of pursuing education and maintaining employment — key to long-term self-sufficiency.
Mental Health and Belonging
Knowing someone is in your corner reduces isolation, builds resilience, and gives young people the confidence to navigate hard seasons.
Relationship first.
Research on youth who've aged out of foster care consistently points to one thing above all else: the presence of a stable, caring adult relationship is the strongest predictor of positive life outcomes.
How to get involved
There are two ways to become part of the TAY Friends community — as an individual mentor or as a church or organization that wants to mobilize your people.
As and Individual
As a Church
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Fill out a short inquiry form at reconcilelongbeach.org. Tell us a little about yourself and why TAY Friends resonates with you.
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You'll learn about trauma-informed relationship building, what to expect, and how to show up well for a young person navigating early adulthood.
9 Hours of training total
You will be required to complete an application prior to training.
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TAY Friends are required to pass a Live Scan fingerprint clearance, and must be 25 or older. This keeps young people safe and sets a strong foundation.
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We'll introduce you to a young person whose needs and personality are a good fit. The relationship begins from there — one month at a time.
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Monthly check-ins with Reconcile staff keep you resourced throughout the year. You're never doing this alone.
What this looks like in real life
“I am excited to talk with someone who is getting to know me as a whole person beyond the challenges I have faced.”
— Current Youth“TAY Friends is so important to me because I believe healing happens in relationships. So many foster youth age out of foster care without a consistent adult in their corner. This program offers a way through that by building real relationships rooted in care and trust. I’ve seen how powerful it is in a young adult's life when we show up and show interest. Foster youth often face so much change and loss — but having one consistent, caring adult can make all the difference. It’s not about fixing anything; it’s about showing up, and being a friend.”
— Jill Parker, CASA/ Tay Friends Co-CreatorReady to be a TAY Friend?
It takes one person, one year, and a willingness to show up. If you're ready to make that commitment — or you want to bring TAY Friends to your church — we'd love to hear from you.