Youth Villages stories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Connie Mills, Assistant Director of Communications, Youth Villages
901-233-1254 | connie.mills@youthvillages.org

Lived experts take center stage with Youth Villages, FosterClub and APHSA

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 06, 2024) — Imagine it is 2034. What will the world look like for transition-age youth leaving foster care or other children’s services?

The newly formed National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth hopes to influence the answer to that question.

The group is bringing together lived experience experts and state/federal policymakers to build a playbook to improve services across the country through the sponsorship of Youth Villages, FosterClub and the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA.)

Every year approximately 20,000 young people turn 18 in foster care in the United States without ever being reunited with their families or adopted. Without support, statistics show they face an array of negative outcomes. They are more likely to be homeless, less likely to complete their education, less likely to earn a living wage, more likely to have their own children younger. The Collaborative’s playbook will include best practices in developing and implementing comprehensive support that helps young people make a successful transition to adulthood.

Recently, the Collaborative held its first convening after the APHSA National Human Services Summit 2024 in Arlington, Virginia.

“This gathering represents a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to ensure the well-being and success of transition-age youth in the child welfare system,” said Nick Henderson, a child welfare leader from Stearns County, Minnesota. “We are privileged to bring together insights from young adults with lived experience, state and local child welfare leaders and national stakeholders to illuminate the path forward.”

The Collaborative is co-designed to include 10 lived experience experts from across the country:

• Knowledge Grant – Florida
• Jasmine Green – California
• Jeremiah Vivekanandan – New York
• Brina Williams – Michigan
• Charissa Keebaugh – Washington
• Shayne McCrae – Kansas
• Kari Robles – New York
• Natalie Clark – Utah
• Maddie LeMay – New Hampshire
• Dina Santos – Florida

At the first convening, the young adults led panel discussions with child welfare leaders who are a part of the Collaborative from California, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Texas and Virginia.

Clark, from Utah, had some advice for state leaders and stakeholders.

“Start paying close attention to what the young people are saying, typically we’re onto something when we’re sharing with you,” she said. “Question underutilization of the resources that currently exist and invest in lived experience positions within your areas of influence.”

Everyone agreed that effective services to families could reduce the number of young people aging out of care in the future. Services that strengthen and support families can help children safely avoid any out-of-home or foster care placement.

Young people suggested some actionable steps that states and agencies can take immediately:

• Provide cultural competency training for staff and caregivers
• Implement anti-discriminatory practices to ensure access to appropriate services regardless of a young person’s background or identity.
• Recruit more diverse foster parents so families can be found to match with a young person’s needs and goals.
• Foster community connections and allow youth to engage in decision making.

The Collaborative has two additional virtual meetings and will conclude with an in-person meeting at the Achieving Success Convening in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November.

For more information on the Collaborative, email:

Shaquita Ogletree |Director of Federal Policy, Youth Villages,

Ivy-Marie Washington | Project Associate, APHSA

Celeste Bodner | Founder, FosterClub

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