Youth or Alumni Group
National Foster Care Youth and Alumni Policy Council
About this resource
The National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council convenes to provide federal stakeholders with relevant and timely information as policies and procedures are created that will impact children and families throughout the country. The Council represents a collective viewpoint of youth and alumni who have personal experience in the foster care system.
The Council consists of 20 members geographically distributed across the country, reflecting a broad range of diversity encompassing, but not limited to, ethnicity, location of residency, religion and gender, and child welfare experiences.
The Council intends to advise by:
• Using their experiences in foster care to identify and inform priorities and offer ideas to improve child welfare policy
• Educating policymakers and other stakeholders about their varied experiences in foster care
• Analyzing effectiveness of programs and policies based on the experiences of youth in foster care
The Council is a project in partnership between Foster Care Alumni of America and FosterClub, with generous support from Casey Family Programs.
Eligibility
- Competitive application process
- Between the ages of 18 and 26 at the start of their service
- Have personal experience in the foster care system (including all out-of-home placements, facilities, kinship placements, shelters, etc.)
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Demonstrate the capacity to participate in a leadership position involving child welfare policy (for example, through active leadership on a Youth Advisory Board or Youth Council)
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Gain permission to travel and be photographed, including ability to obtain required permissions from foster care agency if in extended care
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Demonstrate responsibility and require minimal supervision
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Willing to submit to a criminal background check