Peer2Peer Expands to Nine Counties to Serve More Youth in Foster Care
Children’s Aid and Family Services’ Peer2Peer program is expanding, bringing one-on-one mentoring and support to more youth in foster care across New Jersey.
During the past year, the program served 45 young people in Hudson, Essex, and Union Counties. Recently, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families selected Children’s Aid’s Peer2Peer program to expand into Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren, providing more youth with access to the program’s unique peer mentoring model.
Peer2Peer pairs young people in foster care, ages 14 to 21, with trained Peer Navigators who have firsthand experience in state foster care. Their shared experiences help build trust and provide practical guidance as participants prepare for adulthood.
“The kids generally don’t have a trusted adult in their lives,” says Sumaya Hussain, Peer2Peer Navigator. “They’re able to open up to the navigators because we share the same experiences.”
Whether they’re pursuing education, preparing for employment, or learning to advocate for themselves, participants receive individualized support from Peer Navigators who understand the challenges of foster care because they’ve lived them.
“My job is to help the kids become independent,” Sumaya says. “We focus on goals like getting their state ID or driver’s permit and helping them learn to advocate for themselves. My kids are on the younger side, so I also try to give them experiences they’d have with a family, like visiting Medieval Times or Six Flags. Many of them have never had those opportunities.”
Two of the youth Sumaya mentored have graduated from the program. “They still reach out to me if they have questions or need guidance.” Sumaya recalls mentoring one young woman who struggled through multiple foster care placements while hoping to reunite with her brother. Over time, she began participating in after-school activities and volunteering. She eventually settled into a group home where she’s thriving, and recently obtained the birth certificate she needed to apply for a job.
“The other navigators and I always say we wish we’d had a program like this when we were in foster care,” she says. “Having someone to check in every week and help you navigate those challenges would have made our lives so much easier.”
“We’re excited to see Peer2Peer reach more communities, giving even more young people access to the support, guidance, and connections that can help them successfully transition into adulthood,” says Shavonda Sumter, President and CEO.
IMPACT NEWSLETTER – August 2026
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