Catherine Konald spent 9 years in the Utah foster care system

Catherine was placed into foster care at the age of nine due to her mother’s untreated mental illness. Despite experiencing multiple placements in care, Catherine has been able to move forward pursuing educational goals and advocacy efforts. Currently enrolled at Westminster College, Catherine is majoring in neuroscience and minoring in computer science. She has served on the Youth Motivating Others through Voices of Experience advocacy chapter's Advisory Board, has joined the Dave Thomas Foundation in Utah to encourage adoption and family reunification, and has most recently been elected to serve as Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Transition to Adult Living (TAL) Council as the main chairperson. Dedicated to advocacy work, Catherine uses her experience in foster care to educate state staff, caseworkers and foster parents on what it is like to be a youth in foster care and how they can better support them. Because of her selfless work to improve the foster care system for others, Catherine is a resilient mentor for other young adults

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2016 Outstanding Young Leaders
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