Fostering New Futures

Lehigh University is partnering with The Town Project to launch a Restorative Justice Internship Program aimed at empowering Transition Age Youth (TAY) aging out of the foster care system.

In the United States, over 23,000 youth exit the foster care system annually, facing challenges like housing instability, limited access to education, and barriers to employment. By age 24, only about 50% of these young people secure stable employment, and fewer than 3% earn a college degree. These statistics underscore the urgent need for targeted support as TAY navigate the transition to adulthood.

In this partnership, practitioners from The Town Project will provide Lehigh graduate students, acting as Impact Fellows, with specialized training in core restorative justice practices and conflict mediation skills. These graduate students will then mentor TAY interns, passing on these essential skills and guiding them through the process of Community-Based Action Research (CBAR) and Youth-Based Action Research (YBAR).

The Town Project’s expertise ensures that interns not only gain research skills but also learn conflict resolution, community engagement, and restorative strategies—tools they can use to become leaders and advocates within their communities.

Interns will have the opportunity to design and implement projects that address relevant issues like:

  • Advocating for policy changes in education systems to support TAY and marginalized youth
  • Increasing access to affordable housing for young adults and TAY
  • Developing peer-led mental health support groups and services
  • Launching youth-centered arts and cultural initiatives for community building
  • Creating entrepreneurial training programs for youth interested in launching small businesses

To culminate their CBAR projects, each intern will be encouraged to create a creative experience that expresses the impact of their work. This could include a public art piece, a spoken word performance, a musical expression, or other forms of artistic engagement that reflect their journey and findings. These projects aim to not only showcase the interns’ work but also to engage the broader community and inspire others.

By partnering with The Town Project, Lehigh University ensures that its Impact Fellows engage in meaningful, on-the-ground work that bridges academic learning with impactful community action. Impact Fellows gain invaluable skills and experience, while TAY interns develop leadership, research, and conflict resolution abilities, preparing them for brighter futures and greater self-sufficiency.

For more information about Lehigh University’s Social Impact Programs, visit Lehigh University’s Impact Fellows Program.To inquiry about how you can support the Town Project with this initiative, please send an email to info@thetownproject.org. Applications for interns will  open in Spring, 2025.

References

  1. Child Trends. (2017). Education and employment outcomes for youth aging out of foster care. Retrieved from https://www.childtrends.org/publications/
  2. National Foster Youth Institute. (n.d.). Foster Care Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.nfyi.org/issues/foster-care/
  3. Casey Family Programs. (2020). Supporting youth transitioning out of foster care. Retrieved from https://www.casey.org/supporting-transitioning-youth/