Gear Up: Supplemental Income Pilot Program for Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care

A diverse group of school friends wearing backpacks and smiling

Mecklenburg County’s Youth and Family Services division has launched an innovative pilot program to support young adults aged 18 to 21 who have aged out of the foster care program and will now transition to self-sufficiency.

GEAR Up, or Getting Every Adolescent Ready, will allow 68 young adults to access $763 monthly to spend on products and services related to childcare, healthcare, substance use treatment, groceries, education, or general household needs. The funds will not be given to the participant at any time. Purchases or payments for services will be made by the County through the participant’s assigned LINKS Coordinator.

The pilot program also has a control group of former foster children who will not receive funds but will be tracked through quarterly meetings and check-ins. The two groups will provide data for investment effectiveness and future funding considerations.

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners set aside $500,000 for the GEAR Up program. It is intended to address inequity in the community, which is a Board priority. GEAR Up is the second such initiative to roll out from the Mecklenburg County Office of Equity and Inclusion, the first being a supplemental income program for residents reentering the community after incarceration.

“We are excited to implement this pilot program and see how the initiative helps these young adults get off on the right foot,” said Kim Henderson, director of Mecklenburg County’s Department Child, Family, and Adult Services. “When working with children who are leaving the foster care system, we know there are barriers to success. These young people have often had tumultuous, maybe traumatic, lives, and are now seeking opportunities to get their adult lives started on a successful note. These dollars from Mecklenburg County can help.” 

Youth and Family Services is a division of the Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services.

Foster Parents Needed: The GEAR Up initiative underscores the ongoing need for foster parents. During the past year, Mecklenburg County has engaged in a robust campaign to recruit foster parents who can offer safety, hope, love, peace, and healing to children who need it most. A foster parent provides a temporary home for children until they can return to their home or until a permanent home is found. Children typically enter foster care because of abuse, neglect, or dependency. In many cases, older youth and siblings need to stay together. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mecklenburg County has seen a marked decrease in the number of families willing to foster children.

To learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, or to begin the application process, Mecklenburg County residents can visit MeckNC.gov/KIDS or call 704-336-KIDS (5437).