Empowering Youth
Aging UP is a nonprofit in Sacramento, California that accomplishes its mission through three pillar services, free-of-charge, to Sacramento Region youth (ages 13-21) who have had any experience in foster care.
We fulfill unmet needs by providing:
As a local program, Aging UP uniquely:
- Serves youth with both current or former foster care experience
- Specifically works with 13-to-21-year-old young people
- Applies trauma-informed, one-to-one mentoring
- Pairs mentoring with independent living skills education
- Focuses on developmental relationships
- Requires youth consent and training to join the program
- Provides positive recreation to expand worldviews
- Organizes group events to encourage healthy peer relationships
- Offers additional resources, specific to an individual’s needs
- Requires a governing board position held by a former foster youth
our mission
To empower youth with experience in foster care to successfully transition into adulthood.
our vision
For youth with a history in foster care to thrive.
our history
Aging UP was founded by professionals with child welfare, mentoring, and nonprofit experience. As friends who saw unmet needs for youth with experience in foster care, they combined their passions and professional skills to develop Aging UP’s unique service model.
We incorporated in 2016 and received federal tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2017. We began recruiting mentors in the fall of 2017 and began services for our first Mentoring Matches in 2018.
our values
COMMITMENT
We honor and recognize the amazing support of our volunteers, community partners, funders, and staff.
EMPOWERMENT
We develop self-reliance in youth by supporting committed and caring mentors to empower youth through a stable relationship and the resources to succeed.
GRATITUDE
We honor and recognize the amazing support of our volunteers, community partners, funders, and staff.
INTEGRITY
We utilize ethical and equitable practices to provide quality services through honest communication, reliability, and the transparent use of resources.
PROFESSIONAL
We are mission-focused, with every staff member and volunteer part of a respectful, creative, optimistic, and collaborative team.
PARTNERSHIP
We provide mutually benefiting opportunities for individuals and businesses to invest their time, skills, and resources to help empower the lives of youth from foster care.
QUALITY
We aim for excellence in all we do, utilizing best practices in mentoring, child welfare, and fundraising.
STRENGTH
We are strong alone but even stronger together. We believe every person has unique strengths that can help them thrive.