John Paul Horn

John Paul Horn, LMSW, spent ten years in the foster care system, living in seven foster homes and eight group homes. During his time in care he was a member of California Youth Connection, where he served as the Kern County Chapter President. In addition to his advocacy efforts at the state and local levels, JP served as a Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Foster Youth Intern during the summer of 2009. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at California State University - Bakersfield and his Master of Social Work degree at the University of Iowa.  



JP is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University in the School of Social Work, where he studies how former foster youth make meaning of their experiences in care and how these experiences influence their thoughts about their futures. He teaches graduate courses in social work practice ethics, child welfare policy, and organizational and community practice. He has worked on research projects related to youth-initiated mentoring programs and improving the health of youth through school system and community collaborations. His professional experiences include improving college access for high school students and ensuring accessibility in higher education for students with disabilities. In his spare time, JP participates in sports and arts organizations that celebrate the LGB and T communities.