The seven founding members of Youth in Care Canada were Lisa H., Carleen J., Caroline M., Twila M., Alix R., Troy R., and John T. These young people from across Canada were living in government care when they met at an international child welfare conference in Vancouver, British Columbia in November 1985 and proposed the establishment of a national network for youth in care. In its early days, the Youth in Care Canada was called the Youth to You Network and was a project of the Canadian Child Welfare Association. Youth in Care Canada was officially incorporated as an independent non-profit organization (as The National Youth in Care Network) on December 4, 1990.​

Any interested individuals and organizations may become members of Youth in Care Canada, but only members of the Board of Directors have voting privileges. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, with at least two thirds of Directors being young or older alumni from child welfare care 25 years of age or older.

Youth in Care Canada provides training and support to individuals wanting to establish and develop local youth in care networks.To date, the organization has assisted in the development of over 70 provincial and community-level youth in care networks in Canada. The organization also provides social service programming in the areas of networking, advocacy, and sensitivity training.

Youth in Care Canada is a member organization of the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates (NCYICA) and is involved in the development and implementation of the Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care. Through this work, YICC advises on public policy, programs, practice, and advocacy on specific issues important to youth in and from care.