New Vision Model Expands Across Appalachia Through Regional Partnership

Across Appalachia, young adults aging out of foster care often face fragmented systems that lack coordination, stability, and long-term support. New Vision Tiny Village was created to address these gaps through a holistic model that combines transitional housing, workforce development, and community-based mentorship.

That model is helping shape a broader regional strategy through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s ARISE Planning Grant, part of the Appalachian Employment and Transformation Planning Initiative- Yielding Economic Stability & Success (YESS Appalachia). A recent multi-state site visit in West Point, Mississippi, hosted by Dream Center Golden Triangle, brought together partners from across the region to explore how this approach can be adapted and scaled.

Attendees included leaders from Marshall University, The Christos Foundation, Operation Gateway, and San Mar Family and Community Services, all working toward solutions that support youth in transition ages 18–25 through stable housing and employment pathways. As national attention grows around innovative housing solutions, foster care transition support, and rural workforce development, New Vision is honored to contribute a model rooted in rural Appalachia that is now informing efforts across state lines.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to ensuring young people aging out of care have access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to build stable, independent futures.