How do employees rate First Place for Youth?

Employees rate First Place for Youth 3.6 out of 5 stars based on 56 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor.

How can I get a job at First Place for Youth?

To get a job at First Place for Youth, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at First Place for Youth and prepare for tough questions.

Do people recommend working at First Place for Youth?

Overall, 66% of employees would recommend working at First Place for Youth to a friend. This is based on 56 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor.

How do job seekers rate their interview experience at First Place for Youth?

100% of job seekers rate their interview experience at First Place for Youth as positive. Candidates give an average difficulty score of 3 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) for their job interview at First Place for Youth.

How do employees rate the business outlook for First Place for Youth?

67% of employees think that First Place for Youth has a positive business outlook . This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor.

Working at First Place for Youth

First Place for Youth Snapshot

3.6

based on 56 ratings

66% would recommend to a friend

Thomas Lee

85% approve of CEO

6 OfficesLocations

Mission The mission of First Place is to help foster youth build the skills they need to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood. We offer transition-age youth the programs they need today while influencing the laws, ideas, and policies that will impact future generations of foster youth for years to come.

Description More Than Two Decades of Supporting Transition-Age Foster Youth on their Journey to Independence

As graduate students attending the University of California at Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, Amy Lemley and Deanne Pearn were struck by how many young people who grew up in foster care faced intense challenges after aging out of care, including poverty and homelessness. With a small grant in hand, they were inspired to help break the cycle of poverty for these vulnerable youth and launched First Place for Youth, the first organization in Northern California exclusively dedicated to addressing the lack of affordable housing and resources for foster youth who had exited foster care.

First Place for Youth helps foster youth build the skills they need to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood.

Life at First Place for Youth

Why work with us?

Why Work With Us

The Work We Do

Teams and Roles

Benefits and Perks

MAKE AN IMPACT

Be a part of our diverse, mission-driven team striving across the country to ensure foster youth lead opportunity-rich and choice-filled lives.

BUILDING A JUST WORLD

First Place is dedicated to removing barriers and creating a more equitable future for foster youth. Our team believes in the limitless potential of every individual.

CHANGING THE ODDS

Since 1998, First Place has pioneered California’s extended foster care programs, providing housing and comprehensive services to transition-age foster youth. Our 25-year track record speaks for itself.

CREATING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS

Since our inception, we have been providing results-driven service to young people, building evidence, and changing public policies to improve the lives of as many transition-age foster youth as possible.

JOIN US

Become part of a transformative organization that drives lasting change and ensures a brighter future for all transition-age foster youth.

Company updates

First Place for Youth

17h

Did you know foster youth who complete our My First Place program are 1.7 times more likely to be employed than non-participants, and earn 65% more upon exit? America's businesses are facing a labor crisis. Construction alone needs nearly half a million new workers in 2026. At the same time, thousands of young adults age out of foster care every year, ready to work but often overlooked by traditional hiring processes. The solution is partnership. Read our latest blog on how employers like CVS Health and YMCA are building talent pipelines with foster youth, and getting real results....Show more

firstplaceforyouth.org

Foster Youth Are Your Solution to America's Skills Gap - First Place For Youth

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First Place for Youth

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Over the past year, First Place for Youth participated in a national learning community exploring how young people successfully transition from pre-apprenticeship programs into registered apprenticeships and long-term careers. The work is highlighted in the new report, Understanding Youth Movement from Pre-Apprenticeship to Registered Apprenticeship. In our first year, 19 young people completed First Place’s Business Technology Administration Pre-Apprenticeship, with four already advancing into Registered Apprenticeships. These early results demonstrate the potential of apprenticeship pathways to create meaningful opportunities for young people. The report reinforces what we see every day: supportive services, paid opportunities, and youth-centered program design are critical to helping young people succeed in education and careers. We are grateful to JFF, the Youth Council, and our fellow providers and employer partners for their collaboration and leadership in this work. Read the full report to learn more about the findings, recommendations, and the future of youth apprenticeship pathways....Show more

www.jff.org

Understanding Youth Movement from Pre-Apprenticeship to Registered Apprenticeship

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First Place for Youth

2w

A significant step forward for young people transitioning from foster care. Earlier this month, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1806 into law, extending foster care services to eligible young adults through age 21, effective July 1, 2026. First Place had the opportunity to review the proposed legislation and provide technical recommendations based on our experience supporting young people as they transition to adulthood. Among our recommendations were age-appropriate placements, maximizing available federal Title IV-E funding, automatic enrollment for eligible youth, and opportunities for re-entry into extended care. Research consistently shows that extended foster care improves outcomes, including increased high school completion and college enrollment, while reducing risks of homelessness and food insecurity. We applaud Oklahoma lawmakers and partners who helped advance this legislation and look forward to seeing its positive impact on young people across the state. This is another reminder that supporting young people doesn't end at age 18. #FirstPlaceforYouth #FosterCare #ExtendedFosterCare #YouthAdvocacy #ChildWelfare...Show more

A significant step forward for young people transitioning from foster care. Earlier this month, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1806 into law, extending foster care services to eligible young adults through age 21, effective July 1, 2026. First Place had the opportunity to review the proposed legislation and provide technical recommendations based on our experience supporting young people as they transition to adulthood. Among our recommendations were age-appropriate placements, maximizing available federal Title IV-E funding, automatic enrollment for eligible youth, and opportunities for re-entry into extended care. Research consistently shows that extended foster care improves outcomes, including increased high school completion and college enrollment, while reducing risks of homelessness and food insecurity. We applaud Oklahoma lawmakers and partners who helped advance this legislation and look forward to seeing its positive impact on young people across the state. This is another reminder that supporting young people doesn't end at age 18. #FirstPlaceforYouth #FosterCare #ExtendedFosterCare #YouthAdvocacy #ChildWelfare

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First Place for Youth

2mo

The YouTube Kids + CSS Foster Care Playlist is now live, with over 800,000 views. It challenges harmful stereotypes by highlighting the lived experiences of young people in foster care. Each year, nearly 25,000 youth transition out of the system, yet their stories are often misunderstood. This playlist centers authentic, strengths-based storytelling, showcasing resilience, growth, and ambition. Explore it on the Center for Scholars & Storytellers YouTube channel....Show more

www.youtube.com

CSS Foster Care Playlist

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First Place for Youth

2mo

We’re excited to share that First Place for Youth has successfully earned reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), receiving zero out-of-compliance ratings. This achievement reflects the strength and integrity of our work supporting young people transitioning out of foster care, and our commitment to delivering high-quality, consistent services across all programs. It also highlights the trust placed in us by our partners, from public agencies to community organizations, as we work together to expand access to stable housing, education, and career pathways for youth. Most importantly, this milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team and the collective effort of everyone who makes our mission possible! ...Show more

We’re excited to share that First Place for Youth has successfully earned reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), receiving zero out-of-compliance ratings. This achievement reflects the strength and integrity of our work supporting young people transitioning out of foster care, and our commitment to delivering high-quality, consistent services across all programs. It also highlights the trust placed in us by our partners, from public agencies to community organizations, as we work together to expand access to stable housing, education, and career pathways for youth. Most importantly, this milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team and the collective effort of everyone who makes our mission possible!

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Photos

First Place for Youth photo of: Come work with us at our Oakland office!

First Place for Youth awards & accolades

National Association of Counties Achievement Award/Children and Youth, National Association of Counties, 2013
Top 100 Best Nonprofits, Social Impact Exchange, 2012
American Red Cross Community Award, American Red Cross, 2010
Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award, Bank of America, 2007
Tipping Point Community Award, Tipping Point, 2007

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Jobs at First Place for Youth

Data and Reporting Analys-1

Data and Reporting Analys-1

ILSP Program Assistant

Education and Employment Specialist

Employee reviews at First Place for Youth

First Place for Youth has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 56 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The First Place for Youth employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Ratings by category

3.8

Diversity & inclusion

3.5

Work/Life balance

3.4

Culture & values

3.4

Compensation and benefits

3.2

Career opportunities

3.1

Senior management

Employee reviews

Executive assistantCurrent employee

5.0

Great Mission & People

First Place for Youth

First Place for Youth Snapshot

Life at First Place for Youth