Layla Nytes, a participant in Mississippi’s Youth Villages LifeSet™ program, has been selected for the 2026 Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) Foster Youth Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Nytes is one of only 10 young adults chosen nationwide for this year’s cohort and the first Mississippian youth since 2008 to be invited into this highly competitive program.
Nytes is a junior at Jackson State University, majoring in political science. She is currently serving as a page at the Mississippi State Capitol, a Jim Casey Fellow, and vice chair for the Mississippi Youth Voice.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to use my voice on a national platform to advocate for young people, especially those impacted by foster care,” Nytes said. “I’m looking forward to learning from the other participants in the program and working together to create meaningful change.”
The CCAI Foster Youth Internship Program places young adults with lived experience in foster care in Congressional offices or federal agency internships, where they work on policy issues affecting children and families. Participants spend seven weeks over the summer on Capitol Hill researching challenges within the child welfare system and presenting policy recommendations to federal leaders.
“We are incredibly proud of Layla for earning this prestigious opportunity,” said Erica Robinson, state director of Youth Villages Mississippi. “Her voice, experience, and leadership will have a meaningful impact on child welfare policy at the national level.”
To qualify for the internship, Nytes completed a two-part application process that included an assessment of specific legislative interests, writing ability, and a brief phone call. Then, the selection committee selected the top 15-20 applicants and conducted interviews via Zoom. Nytes was accepted into the program in January, 2026.
Youth Villages LifeSet™ is an evidence-based, community-focused program helping young adults (ages 17–22) transitioning from foster care, juvenile justice, or mental health systems achieve independence. It provides personalized, intensive support for housing, education, employment, and mental health, with specialists meeting weekly with participants.
More than 4,000 children and teenagers are in state custody in Mississippi as of late 2025, making programs like Youth Villages LifeSet invaluable, as well as future policy change.
“My younger sister is still in foster care,” shared Nytes. “Which drives me to continue working, and using my voice to speak on issues on others’ behalf. And thankfully, I’ve been given a platform to. I’m so grateful for that.”
Nytes looks forward to working alongside her other nine interns this summer, then returning to Mississippi to complete her degree at Jackson State and begin law school applications.
“I will be a lawyer,” declared Nytes. “I don’t know what kind yet, but definitely a lawyer.”
Youth Villages has been recognized by the Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations. For more information, go to youthvillages.org.
