Leadership Opportunity

Congressional Shadow Day Program

About this resource

For the past 5 years, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth has hosted a Shadow Day where foster youth and alumni ages 18-30 are invited to Washington, D.C. to be paired with their Members of Congress for a day on Capitol Hill. The youth spend almost a week in Washington, D.C. each May gaining a better understanding of the role of Congress and learning how they can make their voices heard on issues they care about. The half-day spent shadowing their Member of Congress allows foster youth the opportunity to connect face-to-face with their own representatives and get a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process. The youth get to share their personal stories and experiences in the child welfare system with Congressional Members and remind them of the real-world impact of their work on child welfare system reform. NFYI and its partner organizations work to support the Shadow Day program and augment the experiences these youth have on the Hill with leadership training and meetings with other key leaders and officials in the federal government.

Eligibility

  • Foster care youth and alumni, age 18-30

Address

Washington, DC 20001
United States