Youth Perspective
Blog

By APetite1 — Jul 6, 2021

Written by Courtney Canova , 2020 ACF All-In Youth Engagement Team Member & Member of the National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council Over the past several years the child welfare system has shifted some focus to preserve and... Read more

Youth Perspective
Blog

By APetite1 — Jul 6, 2021

Written by Aleks Talsky , Member of the ACF All-In Youth Engagement Team Policymakers, agencies, and professionals continue to expand and develop best practices around achieving permanency for young people served by the child welfare system. Whether... Read more

Tagged:
Adoption
Family relationships
Permanence
Youth Perspective
Blog

By APetite1 — Jul 3, 2021

Music has always been very influential in my life. That being said, I am not musically talented in any way. Believe me when I tell you that I was most certainly not blessed with the ability to sing, read music, or play an instrument of any kind... Read more

Tagged:
Adoption
Well-being
Youth Perspective
Blog

By APetite1 — Dec 7, 2020

In October 2020, the All-In Campaign Youth Engagement Team was launched with eleven young people with lived experience in foster care, led by Youth Engagement Coordinator, Joshua Christian Oswald. Learn more about why these young leaders are... Read more

Tagged:
Permanence
image of young leader
Youth Perspective
Blog

By jaleesasuell — Jul 9, 2020

I spent six years in foster care, and although difficult in many ways, that time during my youth gave me the resilience, passion and drive for the life I have now. I consider myself one of the foster care success stories. But, I can’t imagine if... Read more

Tagged:
Transition (aging out)
image of landing page
Youth Perspective
Blog

By jaleesasuell — Jul 8, 2020

On July 2, 2020, The National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Council hosted a webinar to discuss their 2020 Priorities: A Historic Opportunity to Reform the Child Welfare System: Youth & Alumni Priorities on Quality Residential Services Webinar... Read more

Tagged:
Mental health
Psychotropic medications
Rights in foster care
Sex trafficking
Well-being
image of landing page
Youth Perspective
Blog

By jaleesasuell — Jun 29, 2020

As a young adult who spent nearly 8 years in foster care before aging out, you’d think I’d be used to feeling like my life is out of my control. Living in foster care means never knowing what the day will bring and what will happen next. And, living... Read more

Tagged:
Transition (aging out)
Youth Perspective
Blog

By BrandiRose — Aug 24, 2019

The most important thing in my life is my family. I spent over 2 years in care before being adopted two weeks before my 18th birthday. The whole time I was in care felt like a honeymoon. After the adoption, the relationship between my parents and I... Read more

Tagged:
Family relationships
Youth Perspective
Blog

By Stormy19 — Aug 15, 2019

An Educated Warrior In the middle of my 2019, I’m adorned in blue and white, standing in front of thousands of people staring straight at me. I take it all in with tears dotting my eyes and a smile as wide as you would have ever seen completing my... Read more

Tagged:
Education
Youth Perspective
Blog

By shannonsymonds — Feb 22, 2019

We asked youth to share how they stay connected with family (including parents & siblings), and why staying connected is important to them. Check out what they had to say, and learn why family connections matter. Interested in contributing your... Read more

Tagged:
Permanence