Imagine being a young person living in foster care, facing uncertainty and instability at every turn. Now imagine having to worry about how you’re going to get to school or take advantage of other beneficial opportunities that may become available to you. For many youth in foster care, transportation can be — and unfortunately, often is — a barrier to success.
Better Youth, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, is on a mission to broaden the horizons of youth in foster care by “building creative confidence, bridging resource gaps, and preparing foster and system-impacted youth for sustained success in the creative economy.” Through its partnership with HopSkipDrive, Better Youth is also helping to address the transportation hurdles these young people sometimes face so they can gain access to the tools and resources they need to thrive.
HopSkipDrive aims to create opportunity for all through mobility, and through our HopSkipImpact program, we partner with nonprofits like Better Youth to improve lives and strengthen connections. Recently, we sat down with Founder and CEO of Better Youth, Syd Stewart, to learn more about the programs Better Youth offers and how our alliance with this transformational organization is positively impacting the lives of youth in foster care.
Better Youth uses a holistic approach to equip young people who are or have been involved in the foster care system with skills, knowledge, and confidence through omnidirectional mentoring, media arts training, professional skills development, and social support services
Since the organization’s founding in 2008, Better Youth has worked with 30 agency partners, provided more than 15,000 hours of mentoring, and served more than 12,000 youth — guiding them on a journey of self-discovery and purpose.
Better Youth at America's Got Talent.
Access to reliable transportation is often a crucial factor in enabling participation in Better Youth programs, as many students face challenges in securing consistent transportation.
“Transportation is critical to our program. Without it, we’d have about five youth sitting in our lab,” Stewart explains. “I think the most important part is that we know how our youth are going to get from A to B. They’re getting from their home to our session and then getting from our session to home safely.”
Many youth in foster care find themselves having to rely on public transportation — or other unreliable means of transport that can be lacking in safety and security — to get to appointments, job interviews, and educational opportunities. This can be a significant roadblock to overall well-being and success. HopSkipDrive’s partnership with Better Youth has been instrumental in addressing this challenge. “We even have a few HopSkipDrive CareDrivers we now know personally,” reports Stewart. “For our youth, that familiarity is great.”
“We have kids coming on the bus to South L.A. We love to see that motivation and drive, but why should we expect these young people to have to do all of that and create another barrier for them?”
—Syd Stewart, Founder and CEO of Better Youth
Better Youth program participant Leroy Shelley.
Better Youth has expressed appreciation for partnering with an organization that eliminates the risk associated with public transit, creating a safer environment that further motivates their youth to not only start but also finish the programs. “A lot of kids that lack resources tend to be inconsistent with their attendance, which then leaves them a little less dedicated,” says Stewart. “[HopSkipDrive] allows for them to have a higher level of stability because they can depend on it.”
Stewart shared an inspiring story about a young woman who, before Better Youth’s partnership with HopSkipDrive, had to commute five hours a day round trip to attend the program. This journey included two buses and two trains each way. Says Stewart: ”This is an example where reliable transportation has really made a difference. It’s 50 minutes for her with HopSkipDrive.”
Better Youth also reports that HopSkipDrive’s ride management platform, RideIQ, has really helped with operational efficiency. Stewart was previously managing all ride arrangements herself, but she has been able to delegate this responsibility due to the platform’s user-friendliness. Through RideIQ, Better Youth staff can book, cancel, track, and manage rides all in one place.
In addition, HopSkipDrive’s ability to enable dependable transportation for kids ages six and up makes it a convenient and cost-effective option. “At the beginning, we were using HopSkipDrive only for minors — and then we were using Uber and Lyft for the older youth — but then we realized they could use HopSkipDrive, too. So all of our college-aged youth who are 18 to 24, and then the 16- to 18-year-olds, they can all ride together instead of splitting it up. It's more cost-effective, and safer.”
Since joining the HopSkipImpact program in April of 2023, Better Youth has utilized HopSkipDrive to arrange nearly 550 rides for 35 youth — enabling dozens of young people to consistently participate in their programs.
“Transportation creates stability, and it’s so critical to program success.”
—Syd Stewart, Founder and CEO of Better Youth
The partnership between HopSkipDrive and Better Youth is a testament to the power of collaboration. Working together, we are breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and empowering youth in foster care to reach their full potential.
Interested in learning more about how HopSkipDrive partners with nonprofits, school districts, and counties to enable transportation for youth living in foster care?