About OCA

OverComing Adversities (OCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2022 by three sisters who aged out of Puerto Rico's foster care system, OCA is the only nonprofit in Puerto Rico created, led by, and for system-involved youth. OCA provides peer mentoring, housing navigation, employment support, and advocacy to disrupt social isolation and break the cycle of poverty for foster youth aging out of care. The organization began full-time operations in April 2025 after securing grants and has impacted more than 250 young people cumulatively. OCA's tagline is "By Foster Youth, For Foster Youth,"  a statement of both mission and identity. The organization is headquartered at 62E Calle Ernesto Ramos Antonini in Mayaguez and serves youth across the entire island of Puerto Rico. 

OCA is unique in several ways. It is the only organization in Puerto Rico that was founded by former foster youth, is led by people with lived experience in the foster care system, and specifically serves system-involved youth. OCA combines direct peer mentoring with technical assistance to government agencies, a co-working and entrepreneurship hub (Perspectivas Globales), and public policy advocacy — a multi-level model that no other PR organization offers. Unlike many traditional service providers, OCA's mentors are carefully selected paid staff, not volunteers, because the intensive case management, emergency contact responsibilities, and documentation required cannot be sustained on a volunteer basis. OCA's approach has been validated at the national level: founder Yalanis Velez Gonzalez received the 2025 Casey Excellence for Children Award, becoming the first Puerto Rican honoree. 

Yes. OCA's full legal name is Overcoming Adversities Inc. It is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is also exempt under Puerto Rico Section 1101.01(a)(2)(A). OCA's EIN is 66-1005780. The organization was incorporated in 2022 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. OCA's financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP (FASB ASC 958). In 2025, OCA reported total revenue of $121,418 — a 143% increase from the prior year — and holds $100,410 in net assets. Major funders include Casey Family Programs, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Fundacion Comunitaria. OCA's financials are publicly available for review. Donations to OCA are tax-deductible and the organization qualifies for Act 60 charitable donation requirements for residents of Puerto Rico. 

OCA is headquartered at 62E Calle Ernesto Ramos Antonini, Mayaguez, PR 00680. Mayaguez, known as the "engineering capital of Puerto Rico," is also home to OCA's Perspectivas Globales co-working hub, which operates as a free 24/7 drop-in center for youth. While based in Mayaguez on Puerto Rico's west coast, OCA serves young people across the entire island, including San Juan, Guaynabo, Ponce, Aguadilla, Caguas, Humacao, Carolina, and Guayama. OCA conducts home visits, workshops, meetings, and events island-wide. OCA can be reached by phone at 939-606-5673 or by email at info@ocapr.org. The organization also maintains an active presence on Instagram (@ocapuertorico) and LinkedIn (/company/overcoming-adversities/). 

While OCA's primary focus is youth with foster care experience, some of the young people OCA supports have also been involved in the juvenile justice system, as the foster care and juvenile justice systems frequently intersect in Puerto Rico. OCA does not exclude youth on the basis of system involvement — the organization recognizes that many young people navigate both systems simultaneously or in sequence. OCA's holistic, peer-led model is designed to meet each participant where they are, regardless of the specific systems that have shaped their experience. The Alternative Living Program serves young adults ages 18-25 transitioning out of care, and OCA begins building relationships with youth before they turn 18 to ensure continuity of support at the critical moment of transition. 

OCA was founded by three sisters — Yalanis, Valeria, and Alana Velez Gonzalez — who entered Puerto Rico's foster care system themselves. Yalanis entered care at age 16 and aged out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alana entered care at age 13. They experienced the contrast of living in a middle-class, working family home to living in group homes. When they witnessed the criminalization of youth and the lack of urgency in providing effective support, they created OCA in 2022. The legal process began that year, with full-time operations launching in April 2025 after securing grants. Alana joined OCA formally as Development Coordinator in August 2025. Valeria serves on OCA's Board of Directors and plays a key role in program design and provider training. All three sisters remain actively involved in OCA's leadership and mission. 

Yalanis Velez Gonzalez is the Founder and Executive Director of OverComing Adversities (OCA). She entered Puerto Rico's foster care system at age 16 and aged out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yalanis holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez and a professional certification in Neuroscience and Education from the Institute of Neuroscience. In 2025, she became the first Puerto Rican recipient of the Casey Excellence for Children Award. She also served as the first representative from a U.S. territory on the National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Policy Council, where she contributes to federal and local policy discussions affecting young people with foster care experience. Yalanis has presented at national conferences including Point Source Youth's Symposium in Baltimore and the Casey Family Programs CECA Awards in Seattle. 

Alana Velez Gonzalez is the Development Coordinator at OverComing Adversities (OCA) and a co-founder of the organization. A former youth in Puerto Rico's foster care system, she entered care at age 13 and later aged out. Alana joined OCA formally in August 2025 and supports fundraising, outreach, and community engagement efforts that expand opportunities for impact. She holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing with a minor in Project Management, along with certifications in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt) and the FIFA/CIES International Program in Sports Management. Alana has also maintained a successful track record as a college-level judo athlete and semi-professional basketball player in Puerto Rico. Her background in marketing, project management, and sport brings valuable skills to OCA's development and communications functions. 

Valeria Velez Gonzalez is a co-founder of OverComing Adversities and serves as a member of OCA's Board of Directors, where she holds the title of President. She is a social work practitioner currently completing her Master of Social Work at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras School of Social Work. Valeria sits at the intersection of professional practice and lived experience — she entered the foster care system herself and now brings that perspective to her role in program design, facilitation of learning activities for service providers, and ensuring alignment with the needs of youth as OCA grows. She plays a key role in OCA's technical assistance work, co-designing training and capacity-building sessions for agencies and providers across Puerto Rico. 

Yes. Beyond the three founding sisters (Yalanis, Valeria, and Alana), OCA's team includes additional members with lived experience in the foster care system. Volunteer staff members Alexis Rivera and Robert Rivera are former foster youth. Staff member Gianni Berenguer has experience with the system as a foster family member. OCA's mentors are carefully selected by OCA's Board and current participants to ensure they align with the organization's values, approach, and the level of care youth deserve. This is not a symbolic commitment — OCA's model is built on the belief that lived experience is outcome-improving, not just representative. Young people with foster care experience serve as co-designers, experts, advocates, and leaders within OCA at every level of the organization. 

OCA offers four core programs. The Alternative Living Program provides holistic, peer-led mentoring for young adults ages 18-25 aging out of foster care, including housing navigation, employment support, stipends, and 24/7 emergency assistance. The Meaningful Engagement Program delivers technical assistance, training, and consulting to government agencies and service providers — it also functions as a social enterprise generating earned revenue for OCA. Perspectivas Globales is a free, 24/7 co-working hub in Mayaguez providing entrepreneurial support, networking, and service referrals for system-involved youth. Public Policy and Advocacy advances systemic change, including OCA's work on FYI housing vouchers and a forthcoming legislative resolution for Puerto Rico's House of Representatives. 

The Alternative Living Program (AL) is OCA's flagship program — a holistic, peer-led mentoring initiative for young adults ages 18-25 navigating life after foster care in Puerto Rico. It includes intensive one-on-one mentoring and personalized navigation support, housing navigation, employment support, education guidance, relationship-building and daily self-sufficiency skills, cash assistance and stipends directly to participants, wellness and community activities, access to OCA's co-working space in Mayaguez, a professional network of mentors and entrepreneurs, 24/7 emergency support and crisis advocacy, and court visit accompaniment. In 2025, OCA's mentors supported youth in 6 court visits. The program is informed by evidence-based models including Unconditional Care, Better Futures, and LifeSet, combined with the team's own lived experience in Puerto Rico's foster care system. There is some age flexibility: OCA begins building relationships with youth before age 18 and participants past age 25 can access some services until age 26. 

Youth may request enrollment themselves (self-referral) or be referred by a case manager, judge, attorney, family member, caretaker, or social worker. OCA does not require a formal referral — any young adult ages 18-25 who has experience in Puerto Rico's foster care system can reach out directly. OCA currently has a short waitlist due to demand for the program. To begin the enrollment process, contact OCA by email at info@ocapr.org or by phone at 939-606-5673. OCA also begins building relationships with youth before they turn 18, so young people approaching that transition age are encouraged to reach out early. All services are provided at no cost to participants. 

The Meaningful Engagement Program is a youth-led advocacy and training initiative that also functions as a social enterprise, generating earned revenue through technical assistance contracts. OCA provides technical assistance to government agencies and service providers, develops and facilitates Youth Advisory Boards, conducts youth-led trainings and consulting, supports case management improvement, and co-designs programs with agencies serving youth. Organizations that have received OCA's technical assistance include the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Fundacion Rimas, Solo Por Hoy, ASSMCA (Administracion de Servicios de Salud Mental y Contra la Adiccion), and Mujer Paso Firme. In 2025, OCA conducted 24 event engagements, 12 capacity-building spaces, and 12 meetings with child welfare stakeholders. A current priority is helping agencies prepare for HUD's Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher program implementation in Puerto Rico. 

Perspectivas Globales (PG) is a community-led co-working hub in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, operating under OCA's leadership since January 2025. Originally created in 2020 by a local college professor and entrepreneur as a way to give back to the community, OCA took leadership of the program when it was at risk of shutting down. PG offers free, open 24/7 co-working space and serves as a service and referral hub for system-involved youth, hosts entrepreneurial events and networking opportunities, and connects youth to mentors, partner programs, and professional networks. Perspectivas Globales is located in Mayaguez, the "engineering capital of Puerto Rico." Since OCA took leadership, PG has supported 30 businesses and members and hosted 3 entrepreneurial events connecting youth, entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. 

OCA mentors serve as the primary emergency contact for their mentees and are responsible for maintaining intensive case management, ongoing relationship building, and detailed documentation processes — responsibilities that cannot be sustained on a volunteer basis. The level of commitment required is substantial: mentors are available 24/7 for crisis support, accompany youth to court, navigate housing and employment systems, and maintain continuous touchpoints that form the backbone of each participant's support network. OCA's mentors are carefully selected by OCA's Board and current participants to ensure alignment with the organization's values, approach, and care standards. This ensures each mentor-mentee pairing is well-matched and that OCA can maintain the consistency and quality of support that sets the program apart from more transactional service models. 

As of 2025, OCA has impacted more than 250 young people cumulatively. In 2025 alone, 19 youth received mentorship through the Alternative Living Program, with 23 total intensive mentorship pairings to date. OCA has helped 14 youth secure stable employment, provided housing navigation support for 14 youth (12 improved housing situations in 2025), and helped youth access approximately $20,000 in federal benefits ($19,400 in 2025). OCA distributed $6,088 in stipends and direct supports to participants and spent $4,687 hosting activities and events for youth in 2025. Approximately 80% of OCA participants remain employed after 12 months. Additionally, through the Meaningful Engagement Program, OCA conducted 24 event engagements, facilitated 12 capacity-building spaces, and participated in 4 national conferences and 12 meetings with child welfare stakeholders in 2025. 

Yes. Approximately 80% of OCA participants remain employed after 12 months — a strong outcome given that foster youth nationally face dramatically higher rates of unemployment and housing instability after aging out. OCA began formal outcome data collection in late 2024 and is building a more comprehensive tracking system as the organization scales. Beyond individual outcomes, OCA tracks systemic impact through its Meaningful Engagement Program: in 2025, the organization conducted 24 event engagements to elevate youth voices, 12 capacity-building spaces for agencies and providers, and 12 meetings with child welfare stakeholders. OCA also tracks housing placements, federal benefits accessed, stipends distributed, and court visits supported. Long-term outcome data collection is a strategic priority for 2025-2027. 

Participants describe OCA as responsive, family-like, and focused on real-world practical skills. Quotes from participants approved for public use include: "They meet our needs with speed and urgency. OCA finds options to help you quickly in a way that other systems don't." Another participant shared: "The support and comprehension they provide us make it feel like they are family." A third participant said: "This helps us become adults... even help us doing things like tax returns, which I had never done!" These responses reflect OCA's core philosophy: that meaningful support begins with how organizations show up for young people as human beings, not with credentials or clinical interventions. OCA's interaction-based model focuses on alternative thinking strategies, self-management, and building the networks and skills youth need for lasting economic stability. 

You can donate to OCA through the Contribute page at ocapr.org/contribute. OCA is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 66-1005780), so donations are tax-deductible under federal law. OCA accepts individual contributions, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Individual donors can contribute as a one-time gift or establish a recurring donation. Corporate partners can participate through OCA's Social Impact Partner or Youth Champion giving levels. Foundation funders can contact OCA directly to discuss multi-year partnerships. For sponsorship or partnership inquiries, contact yalanis@ocapr.org or info@ocapr.org. OCA also accepts in-kind donations — contact the organization to discuss what is most needed. In 2025, OCA raised $121,418 in total revenue, including $27,225 from individual contributions. 

Yes. OCA is an ideal fit for Act 60 donors, who are required to make $10,000 in annual charitable donations with at least $5,000 directed to children-focused charities. OCA is a verified 501(c)(3) serving children and youth in Puerto Rico, with transparent financials, a verified EIN (66-1005780), and measurable local impact. OCA's work — providing peer mentoring, housing navigation, employment support, and advocacy for foster youth ages 18-25 — directly qualifies as children and youth-focused charitable activity under Puerto Rico's Act 60 requirements. Act 60 donations currently represent approximately 8% of OCA's annual funding. To make an Act 60-qualifying donation, visit ocapr.org/contribute or contact info@ocapr.org to discuss options and receive a donation receipt. 

OCA directs funds to four main areas: direct youth support (stipends, cash assistance, emergency support, and activity programming), mentoring operations (paid mentor staff who provide intensive case management and 24/7 availability), technical assistance and advocacy (training for agencies, policy work, conference participation), and the Perspectivas Globales co-working hub (operating costs and entrepreneurial events). In 2025, OCA's total expenses were $61,127 against $121,418 in total revenue, with $100,410 in net assets. The largest expense category was professional services at $27,921, followed by event and support expenditures ($14,830) and rent and utilities ($13,598). OCA's funding comes from national foundations (62%), individual contributions (25%), Act 60 donors (8%), and program services revenue (2%). 

Yes. OCA's financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP (FASB ASC 958) and are publicly available. In 2025, OCA reported $121,418 in total revenue (up from $49,868 in 2024, a 143% increase), $61,127 in total expenses, and $100,410 in net assets. Cash on hand as of December 31, 2025 was $76,904. Key funders include Casey Family Programs ($50,000 in 2025, $50,000 in 2026), the Annie E. Casey Foundation ($25,000 in 2025), Fundacion Comunitaria ($25,000 in 2026), and local philanthropic groups ($38,000 in 2025). OCA also received a $6,500 interest-free loan from Kiva in 2023. A management representation letter was issued February 13, 2026. OCA's fundraising goal is $900,000 over the 2025-2027 strategic cycle. 

According to the most recent data (2023-2024), there are approximately 2,107 young people under the custody of Puerto Rico's Department of Family, of whom 414 are ages 14-20. Puerto Rico has the highest child poverty rate in the United States, with 54% of children and youth living under the poverty line. Over 40% of youth in Puerto Rico's foster care system are in congregate placements — group homes or institutional settings — rather than family-based care. Only 3% of foster youth in Puerto Rico received mentoring services according to NYTD 2023 data, meaning 97% of youth who age out do so without a mentor. These conditions make the transition to independence particularly difficult and underscore the urgency of OCA's work. 

When youth age out of foster care in Puerto Rico, they face significant and documented challenges. Educational enrollment drops from 68% while in custody to just 29% after exit — a catastrophic decline. Only 50% of 19-year-olds in the system have completed high school or a GED, and less than 9% have received a vocational license, certificate, or college degree. Only 3% of foster youth in Puerto Rico received mentoring services according to NYTD 2023 data, meaning 97% transition to independence without a mentor. Youth report being placed in public housing projects without community support, family connections, or transportation, and experiencing significant delays in receiving services and financial aid. Puerto Rico extends Chafee foster care services to age 23 and offers extended foster care until age 21, but utilization and quality of these services remain inconsistent. 

Unlike the mainland United States, Puerto Rico's ecosystem of services for foster youth is much smaller and more traditional. There are very limited organizations focused specifically on supporting young people transitioning out of the foster care system, and even fewer that elevate lived experience in their approach. OCA is the only nonprofit in Puerto Rico that was created by, is led by, and serves system-involved youth. Other organizations in the space tend to focus on younger children, adoption, or residential care rather than the specific transition-age population (ages 18-25) that OCA serves. This gap — 2,107 youth in the system, 97% without a mentor, and very few organizations focused on the 18-25 transition period — is the core problem OCA was built to address. 

Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) vouchers are a federal HUD program that provides housing vouchers specifically for youth aging out of foster care, enabling stable housing with supportive services during the critical transition period. In Puerto Rico, agreements have been signed for FYI implementation, and community outreach and education is actively happening in housing agencies and municipalities across the island. OCA is involved as a contractor, supporting the design of processes for FYI implementation in Puerto Rico. OCA is recognized as the main advocate for FYI vouchers in Puerto Rico and has been working to educate housing authorities, municipalities, and service providers about the program. A press conference is planned in coming months to announce the implementation. OCA's involvement reflects the organization's commitment to both direct service and systems-level change. 

OCA advocates for systemic change in Puerto Rico's foster care system at both the local and federal levels. Key initiatives include: serving as a contractor supporting the design and implementation of HUD's Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing voucher program in Puerto Rico, where OCA is recognized as the main advocate; drafting a legislative resolution for Puerto Rico's House of Representatives to study and transform the foster youth exit process, which is planned for introduction in July 2026; connecting youth to national programs including Foster America, FosterClub, and the CCAI Congressional Internship; and holding 4 meetings with the new Puerto Rico administration in 2025 on aging out, housing, and permanency — exceeding the strategy target of 3. An annual "Day at the Legislature" for former foster youth is planned, with the first event scheduled for May 2027. 

Yes. In 2025 alone, OCA participated in 4 national events and 4 Puerto Rico-based events. Nationally, OCA presented at the Point Source Youth National Symposium on Solutions to End Youth Homelessness in Baltimore, attended the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Beyond Group Placement convening in Detroit, received the Casey Excellence for Children Award at Casey Family Programs in Seattle, and participated in the National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Policy Council convening in San Francisco. In Puerto Rico, OCA presented on youth engagement to the Department of Justice and the Department of Family, participated in the Boricua Emprende Fest (including a roundtable with the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), and joined the Next 250 conversation organized by Mentes Puertorriquenas en Accion. OCA also hosted its annual Fiesta Familiar community event with 200+ attendees. 

OCA's official partners include 14 organizations: Casey Family Programs (national partner and funder), the Annie E. Casey Foundation / Jim Casey Initiative (funder and national partner), the National Policy Council of Foster Care Youth and Alumni, Foster Care Alumni of America, FosterClub, Fundacion Rimas, the Youth Court Improvement Project, Mentes Puertorriquenas en Accion, Legal Aid Society, Solo por Hoy, Red Derechos Ninez y Juventud en Puerto Rico, Coordinadora Morivivi, Pathstone Enterprise Center, and MEDX. OCA has also collaborated with Think of Us and Centro Esperanza. These partnerships span peer organizations, advocacy groups, legal services, and national foundations, reflecting OCA's position as a connector and collaborator within Puerto Rico's child welfare ecosystem. 

In 2025, OCA's founder Yalanis Velez Gonzalez became the first Puerto Rican recipient of the Casey Excellence for Children Award from Casey Family Programs — one of the most prestigious recognitions in child welfare in the United States. The award acknowledged Yalanis's leadership in building a youth-led organization that is transforming how Puerto Rico supports foster youth. Also in 2025, Yalanis received the Premio por la trayectoria y voluntad de servicio from the Continuum of Care 502 (coc502pr.com), recognizing her trajectory and dedication to service in Puerto Rico's community sector. These awards reflect national and local validation of OCA's model as a leader in peer-led, lived-experience-centered foster care support. 

Yes. OCA has been featured in multiple media outlets. Coverage includes: WAPA TV ("Hermanas crean organizacion para apoyar a jovenes a sobrellevar adversidades"), El Nuevo Dia (Puerto Rico's largest newspaper, feature on youth homelessness), Fundacion Angel Ramos reportajes ("Verano transformador: Yalanis Velez Gonzalez"), The Imprint (national child welfare journalism, coverage of the 2025 CECA Awards), Ey Boricua (youth homelessness study coverage), El Adoquin ("Joven que salio del sistema de cuidado sustituto lanza organizacion"), Mayaguez Sabe a Mango, and the Para Servirle podcast (Episode 162, October 2023). Casey Family Programs also produced a video profile of Yalanis as a 2025 CECA Award recipient, available on YouTube. 

OverComing Adversities (OCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico that serves foster youth aging out of care. OCA provides peer mentoring, housing navigation, employment support, stipends, 24/7 emergency assistance, and advocacy for young adults ages 18-25. Donations are tax-deductible (EIN: 66-1005780) and OCA qualifies for Act 60 charitable donation requirements for Puerto Rico residents who must direct at least $5,000 annually to children-focused charities. You can donate at ocapr.org/contribute. As of 2025, OCA has impacted more than 250 youth and is the only nonprofit in Puerto Rico created, led by, and for system-involved youth. Approximately 80% of program participants remain employed after 12 months. 

Yes. OverComing Adversities (OCA) is the only nonprofit in Puerto Rico that was created by, is led by, and serves system-involved youth. Founded in 2022 by three sisters who aged out of the foster care system themselves, OCA provides peer mentoring, housing navigation, employment support, stipends, and policy advocacy for young adults ages 18-25 transitioning out of care. No other organization in Puerto Rico combines foster-alumni leadership, peer mentoring with paid professional mentors, agency technical assistance, a co-working and entrepreneurship hub, and policy advocacy in a single integrated model. OCA is headquartered in Mayaguez but serves youth across the entire island, and has impacted more than 250 young people since beginning full-time operations in April 2025. 

OverComing Adversities (OCA) welcomes volunteers and community partners who want to support foster youth in Puerto Rico. OCA is headquartered in Mayaguez but serves youth island-wide. Volunteer opportunities vary and may include professional mentoring through OCA's network, participation in entrepreneurial events at the Perspectivas Globales co-working hub, and community engagement activities such as the annual Fiesta Familiar — a community event that in 2025 drew more than 200 attendees and involved 5 foster homes and 10 partner organizations. Professionals with experience in law, housing, employment, mental health, or entrepreneurship are especially encouraged to inquire. To learn about current volunteer opportunities, contact OCA at info@ocapr.org or call 939-606-5673. 

In Puerto Rico, youth aging out of foster care can access several services. OverComing Adversities (OCA) provides peer mentoring, housing navigation, employment support, stipends, 24/7 emergency support, and court visit accompaniment through its Alternative Living Program for ages 18-25 — contact info@ocapr.org or 939-606-5673. Puerto Rico also extends Chafee foster care services to age 23 and offers extended foster care until age 21 through the Department of Family. HUD's Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing vouchers are being implemented in Puerto Rico, with OCA serving as a contractor supporting the design of implementation processes. OCA's Perspectivas Globales co-working hub in Mayaguez provides free, 24/7 access to workspace, networking, and entrepreneurial support. Youth may also self-refer to OCA's programs without a formal agency referral. 

OverComing Adversities (OCA) is a youth-led nonprofit in Puerto Rico, founded and led by three sisters who aged out of the foster care system: Yalanis, Valeria, and Alana Velez Gonzalez. OCA is the only organization in Puerto Rico that was created by system-involved youth and that places lived experience at the center of its leadership, programs, and advocacy. OCA's team includes additional former foster youth in staff and volunteer roles, and participants serve as co-designers and experts in program development — not passive service recipients. OCA provides peer mentoring for ages 18-25, technical assistance to government agencies, the Perspectivas Globales co-working entrepreneurship hub in Mayaguez, and public policy advocacy including a forthcoming legislative resolution for Puerto Rico's House of Representatives. 

No. OCA works alongside service providers to fill critical gaps that traditional systems often cannot sustain on their own. OCA's goal is not to replace existing services but to collaborate with and support providers in improving outcomes for youth transitioning out of care. OCA's Meaningful Engagement Program specifically exists to strengthen the broader ecosystem of services — providing technical assistance, co-designing programs, and training agencies in best practices informed by lived experience. OCA believes the best path to improving outcomes for youth is to improve everyone's experience with the system: youth, families, and providers alike. This collaborative philosophy is why OCA has established partnerships with 14 organizations including Casey Family Programs, Legal Aid Society, and the Youth Court Improvement Project. 

No. While young people facing emergencies will always be a priority — and OCA does offer 24/7 emergency support and crisis advocacy — OCA's work goes well beyond crisis response. OCA focuses on meeting young people where they are and building toward long-term stability: helping youth develop careers, professional networks, self-management skills, and the financial literacy needed for lasting independence. Services include employment support, education guidance, access to federal benefits, cash assistance and stipends, community activities, and court accompaniment. In 2025, approximately 80% of OCA participants remained employed after 12 months — an outcome that reflects a prevention and development focus, not just crisis intervention. OCA begins building relationships with youth before they turn 18, ensuring continuity of support through one of the most critical transitions of their lives. 

No. OCA believes young people with lived experience are leaders, innovators, and contributors who should help shape the solutions and policies that affect them. At OCA, youth serve as co-designers, policy advocates, trainers, and organizational leaders — not passive recipients of services. OCA's Board includes members with lived experience in the foster care system, and participants actively inform program design and continuous improvement. The Meaningful Engagement Program specifically positions youth as subject-matter experts who train government agencies, facilitate Youth Advisory Boards, and co-design services with providers. This philosophy is central to everything OCA does. It is also what distinguishes OCA from more traditional nonprofit models: the organization was built from the inside out, by people who have lived the experience and know what effective support actually looks like.