FosterClub LEx Leader Speaks at CWLA 2026
The National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth made a big move at the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) 2026 Annual Conference, held April 19–22 in Arlington, VA. Every year, this conference brings together people who care deeply about improving the child welfare system. This year, the Collaborative came ready to share something major: Improving Outcomes for Young Adults and the Systems that Serve Them: A Playbook of Best Practices.
FosterClub Lived Experience (LEx) Leader Dina Santos, who spent 3 years in the Florida foster care system, didn't just attend the conference. They helped in presenting the Playbook to a room packed with advocates, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders.
Dina spoke honestly about what this project meant to them:
“Before this project, I thought all child welfare professionals sucked and weren’t willing to listen to us. After this project, though, I learned Child Welfare professionals have their own specific lens and perspective and most are doing the best they can to help us.”
This kind of mindset shift is exactly why co-creation with Lived Experience Leaders is so important.
So, What's Inside the Playbook?
Together with an APHSA staff and human services leader on the Collaborative, Dina walked the audience through what the Playbook actually offers:
- 12 Core Principles, identified and developed with Lived Experience Leaders, laying out what matters most for young people transitioning to adulthood
- 8 Playbook Sections, covering real program examples and recommendations on housing, education, health, extended foster care, and more
- 8 National Calls to Action, bold policy priorities pushing for real change at the state and federal level
“The Core Principles within the Playbook are the bare minimum everyone should have.”
— Dina Santos, they/them, spent time in Florida's foster care system
During the session, audience members discussed how they are currently using the Playbook and how they plan to integrate it into future work, including:
- Setting up a youth advisory board in their state to empower and collaborate with young people with lived experience in foster care.
- Co-designing with young people in a program they’re working on developing.
- Promoting interagency collaboration as a small non-profit working with many larger organizations.
Ready to Get Involved?
Read the Playbook and share it with folks you know.
Have questions? Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].
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