Independent Living Arrangement · Virginia

Structured Independent Living for Youth Ages 17 to 21.

NexGen Alliance is a VDSS-licensed Child-Placing Agency providing structured, trauma-informed Independent Living Arrangement services for Virginia youth transitioning from foster care to adult independence.

Two young adults meeting with a social worker in a professional office setting, reviewing transition plans.
17–21Ages Served
24/7On-Call Support
VDSSLicensed CPA
90Day Service Plan Review
The Challenge

The gap older youth face.

15,000+
Youth age out every year

Young people age out of U.S. foster care annually, often without a stable place to land.

1 in 4
Experience homelessness

One in four experience homelessness during the transition to adulthood.

Under 50%
Employed by age 24

Fewer than half are employed by age 24, a launch that too often stalls.

"Older youth don't fail at independence. The system fails to prepare them for it. NexGen Alliance closes that gap with a structured ILA placement designed to launch, not warehouse."
Why We Exist

A placement built to launch.

Our Mission

At NexGen Alliance, we exist for the young people the system was never designed to keep. We provide structured, trauma-informed independent living services that build real skills, demand real growth, and produce real results. We don't just prepare youth for adulthood, we equip them to own it.

Our Vision

We envision a future where every young person we serve is defined not by where they started, but by how far they go, leaving more powerful, more prepared, and more unstoppable than the day they arrived.

The Program

What the NGA ILA Program is.

A structured Independent Living Arrangement for youth ages 17 to 21 transitioning from foster care to adult independence. Operated as a VDSS Licensed Child-Placing Agency serving Youth Placed in Independent Living Arrangements.

Shared housing grouped by gender

Male and female youth are housed separately in same-gender units.

Trauma-informed daily structure

Predictable routines and support, not just supervision.

Measurable life-skills outcomes

Built directly into every youth's service plan.

24/7 on-call case management

Every day of the year, no exceptions.

Building futures

One youth at a time.

A new place. A first set of keys. A first night of quiet. For the young people we serve, moving in is more than a transition. It is the beginning of a launch we are honored to walk alongside. Our homes are fully furnished, so youth arrive to a ready, comfortable living space from day one.

A young woman carrying a moving box into her new home at doorway with soft morning light.
A young man setting down a moving box in a sunlit bedroom, with a rolled rug and backpack nearby.
A young woman sitting on the floor of her new bedroom unpacking a folded sweater from a moving box.
What we help with

Every part of the launch.

We meet youth where they are and walk with them through every part of building an adult life. Not just a roof. A real launch.

Housing

Safe, stable, fully furnished housing that becomes the foundation for everything else. Youth arrive to a ready living space and learn to run a home of their own.

Employment

Job readiness training, resume building, interview preparation, and connections to local employers and internships that line up with each youth's skills and career goals.

Education

Support finishing high school or earning a GED, pursuing higher education, enrolling in vocational programs, and navigating college applications, financial aid, and scholarships.

Financial Literacy

Budgeting, understanding credit, and planning for long-term financial stability. Savings are encouraged monthly, with at least 10% of each youth's stipend placed into their savings account.

Mental Health

Trauma-informed support and connections to counseling, psychiatric services, and medication management when needed. Youth are not walked through this alone.

Transportation

Rides to work, school, appointments, and court dates. Guidance on public transit and support toward securing personal transportation when the time is right.

Graduating with skills

The habits of an independent adult.

Youth leave NexGen with the real, everyday skills that define adulthood. Not memorized lessons. Habits practiced daily until they stick.

  • 01

    Cooking

    Meal planning, grocery shopping on a budget, and preparing healthy, affordable meals youth actually want to eat.

  • 02

    Employment

    Professionalism, workplace communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and setting real career goals worth showing up for.

  • 03

    Driving

    Driver's education resources, guidance through the licensing process, and support toward independent transportation.

  • 04

    Time Management

    Balancing work, school, and personal commitments. Organization, accountability, and follow-through built into daily routines.

  • 05

    Interpersonal Skills

    Conflict resolution, healthy communication, empathy, and building the support network every adult needs.

  • 06

    Long-Term Planning

    Setting goals, staying on track, and understanding that stability is built one week at a time.

How we show up

Support that doesn't end at 5pm.

24/7

On-call support

Staff available around the clock, including holidays and weekends.

Trauma-informed care

Every interaction grounded in trauma-informed practice.

Weekly goal meetings

One-on-one weekly check-ins on transition goals, employment, education, and well-being.

Monthly reports

Detailed reports delivered to the placing agency every month.

Mentorship

Adult mentors matched with youth for consistent, caring guidance.

Ongoing support

Relationships and resources continue beyond program discharge. We stay in youth's lives.

How We Work

Trauma-informed, skill-building, relationship-based, every day.

Structure

Predictable routines, clear expectations, and a written participation agreement signed at admission.

Skill-building

Every interaction is a teaching moment tied to the youth's service plan and transition goals.

Safety

24/7 on-call caseworker, written personal emergency plan, and rigorous behavior-support standards.

Self-determination

Youth-led service planning, normalcy, and decision-making opportunities at every step.

Accountability

90-day service-plan reviews, monthly visit notes, and outcome tracking to discharge.

A Message From Our CEO

Every young person deserves a real launch.

Older youth leaving foster care are not looking for another placement. They are looking for a real chance to build an adult life. That is the work of NexGen Alliance.

We built this program for the young people the system was never designed to keep. We provide structured housing, real skill-building, and consistent adult support so youth do not simply age out, they launch. Every service plan is measured. Every goal is tracked. Every young person is treated as capable of the future they want.

To the DSS workers, GALs, and community partners who send us referrals: thank you for trusting us with the young people you fight for. To the youth we serve: we see you, we believe in you, and we are here for the long walk, not just the placement.

Courtney Harper

Chief Executive Officer
NexGen Alliance

Ready When You Are

Have a youth who may be a fit?

Reach out any time. We acknowledge every inquiry the same business day and open a placement conversation within 24 hours. Youth information is handled confidentially and never discussed on unsecured channels.

Phone

(757) 240-6825

Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm ET · on-call 24/7

Fax

(757) 527-2771

Office

733 Thimble Shoals Blvd, Suite 113
Newport News, VA 23606

By appointment

What happens next

  1. Same-day acknowledgment from the NGA Program Director.
  2. Eligibility review against ILA criteria (age 17 to 21, life-skills readiness).
  3. Pre-placement tour, participation agreement, and admission scheduled together.