"Breaking Barriers: Pathways to a Thriving Life Beyond Foster Care": A Virtual Roundtable Recap
The National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council (Council) recently held a virtual roundtable on Breaking Barriers: Pathways to a Thriving Life Beyond Foster Care, hosted in ACF Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Although the discussion was centered on Region 2, individuals from across the country participated in the event, highlighting the importance of these issues nationwide.
The roundtable was thoughtfully curated by Council Members Daysha Reed, Marquan Teetz, Catherine Szkop, Hope Coudayre, Aoguzi McDonald, and Yalanis Vélez, who used their lived experience and expertise to guide the roundtable’s presentation and discussions.
We were also honored to have three exceptional guest speakers:
- Shaquita Ogletree, Director of Policy at Youth Villages
- Ruth White, Executive Director of The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare (NCHCW)
- Jennifer Montalvo García, Investigation Associate at Families First, Grupo Nexos Inc.
These guest speakers, along with Council Members, explored critical efforts to foster positive transitions for youth transitioning out of the foster care system.
Here is a recap of the roundtable:
Recommendation from the Older Youth Successful Transition to Adulthood Priority (2020): Promoting "normalcy" is essential to youth well-being, helping them access people and support systems that encourage them to pursue their dreams.
Key Actions:
- Expand access to normalizing activities that are inclusive, relevant, diverse, and of interest to youth.
- Promote Foster youth autonomy by providing them with the knowledge of their rights and support to report any violations.
Promising Practices:
- Programs such as Casey Family Programs’ Permanency Values Trainings in Puerto Rico and Fostering Healthy Futures in Denver, CO, help youth develop healthy relationships and life skills.
Recommendation from Preventing Homelessness Priority (2015): Ensure that foster youth transitioning out of care have access to stable housing.
Key Actions:
- Streamline communication between programs to avoid gaps in services.
- Extend the age of the Extended Foster Care Program to 26, allowing youth more time to transition successfully.
Promising Practices:
- Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Vouchers and The Housing Academy Collaborative (NYC) assist youth in securing housing before they age out of care.
- Programs like The Good Shepherd's House in South Carolina and First Place in New Jersey offer supportive, affordable housing for foster youth transitioning to independence.
Recommendation from Higher Education Priority (2013): Provide foster youth with the resources and support needed to pursue higher education and vocational training.
Key Actions:
- Create a national resource center dedicated to educational attainment.
- Improve The Education and Training Voucher Program and implement federal tuition waivers to support foster youth across the country.
Promising Practices:
- Programs such as Fostering Success Michigan, Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) in New York, and Works Wonders in Rhode Island, Countdown to 21 in Illinois, offer essential educational and vocational support to foster youth.
Collaborative Breakout Discussions
Following presentations by our council, participants joined live breakout discussions focused on three key topics: support networks, housing solutions, and educational access and career preparedness. Ten Regional lived experience advocates, specially selected for their unique insights, contributed both personal and professional perspectives on each topic. These advocates helped drive the conversation towards actionable solutions, enriching the discussions with practical recommendations.
Advancing Advocacy to Break Barriers
The Breaking Barriers Roundtable underscored that, while progress has been made, much work remains to ensure foster youth and alumni have access to essential resources, supports, and opportunities. Through collaborative efforts and the dedication of lived experience experts, foster youth can look forward to a future that promises greater stability and success as they transition out of care.
Pathway Development for a Thriving Future
During breakout sessions led by Council members and Regional Lived Experience Leaders, over 80 participants engaged in discussions to refine the "10 Pathways to a Thriving Life Beyond Foster Care." These pathways, informed by diverse experiences and insights, will be published and distributed later this year.
Stay tuned for continued updates on our advocacy efforts and the ongoing work to remove obstacles and create pathways to thriving lives beyond foster care.
This would not be possible without the leadership of: Foster Care Alumni of America, FosterClub, Casey Family Programs, & Lived Experience Leaders from the National Policy Council: Daysha Reed, Marquan Teetz, Catherine Szkop, Hope Coudayre, Aoguzi McDonald, and Yalanis Vélez, as well as selected Lived Experience Leaders from across the country: Vikan Vivekanandan, Aiden Abruzzino, Princess Simms, Lakievia Johnson, Ollie Hernandez, Ruby Guillen, Chloe Williams, Demetrius Roberts, Rikki Craft, Cierra Bailey.