Announcing the 2025 Reconstruct Challenge : Thriving Youth

Building a Future Where Every Child is Whole

Tennessee has the third-highest teen foster care intake in the country, with over 5,200 youth aged 14+ in the system. This number looks to remain consistent over the next few years.

70-80% of youth aging out in TN experience homelessness, addiction, incarceration, or trafficking within 3 years.

97% enter chronic poverty, and there is a lack of access to stable housing, supportive networks, and mental health support

Nationally, of the 20,000 youth who age out annually, by age 21…

  • 40% will end up homeless

  • 81% of males will have been incarcerated

  • 71% of females will end up pregnant

Without systemic innovation, this cycle continues

The Reconstruct Challenge is seeking to find and fund breakthrough solutions that address the most critical gaps facing at-risk young adults in Tennessee. We are investing in scalable innovations that can change the trajectory for vulnerable teens.

Challenge Themes

  • Ensuring Every Vulnerable Youth Has a Support Network

    Innovations that provide long-term, stable support to young people aging out of foster care, leaving the justice system, or experiencing homelessness.

    Potential Focus Areas:

    Peer-to-mentor networks that connect youth with adults who support them long-term.

    Tech-driven community support models (AI-driven matching, scalable mentorship).

    Payer-backed support systems that make mentorship & coaching part of care plans.

  • Expanding Housing and Economic Stability for Vulnerable Youth

    We are seeking to fund innovations that create pathways to financial security, employment, and economic mobility for vulnerable youth.

    Potential Focus Areas:

    Guaranteed income or financial coaching pilots for youth aging out of care.

    Earn-and-learn workforce development that integrates mentorship & trauma-informed care.

    Alternative credit-building & financial inclusion models tailored for at-risk youth.

  • Expanding Access to Mental & Behavioral Health for Youth in Crisis

    We are looking for scalable solutions that provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health care for vulnerable youth.

    Potential Focus Areas:

    Tech-enabled mental health access (telehealth, AI-driven chat support, mobile clinics).

    Trauma-informed interventions embedded in schools, workforce programs, or housing.

    Payer-backed behavioral health programs that integrate social determinants of health.

Get Involved

Supported by

Welcome to Fracture to Flourish, a podcast from Access Ventures illuminating untold stories of resilience.

Season one, "Aging Out," reveals the raw reality of the 20,000 young adults who exit foster care yearly without support networks.

Through authentic conversations with both those who've experienced the system firsthand and the advocates fighting for change, we uncover the human stories behind the statistics—journeys of struggle and strength that transform fracture into flourishing.

Join us as we reimagine what meaningful support truly looks like for youth transitioning to independence.