2019 Outstanding Young Leaders

Robert Taylor was in care for 8 years in Tennessee’s Child welfare system. Robert reports that he and his siblings had some hard experiences in care, including a failed adoption and sibling separation. After entering extended care, he was able to graduate from High School and is proud to have... Read more

Jillian Clark-Duteil, age 20, Arizona’s Child Welfare system. Jillian entered care at the age of 15 and experienced kinship/relative care. She was placed with a good family friend where she and her sibling got to maintain their connection. Throughout her experience in foster care, Jillian and her sister were forced... Read more

Taylor Alaniz was in care for 8 years in Texas’s Child welfare system. Taylor recalls at least 12 foster homes, 3 residential treatment centers, several hospitalizations, and countless stays in juvenile detention, she doesn’t remember them all. She does remember many people who helped her and “protected” her when she... Read more

Genesis Duarte-Vazquez, age 21, California’s Child Welfare system. Genesis entered the foster care system at the age of 9 years old, having been in 3 different foster homes after entering care. She recently aged out of the foster care system, at the age of 21. Genesis is currently attending South... Read more

Kimberly Coronel, 19, California’s Child welfare system. Kimberly entered care at the age of four. She had a total of 5 placements throughout her foster care experience, 2 group homes, 2 foster home placements, and a failed adoption. In her last placement, her foster parents received guardianship of her. After... Read more

Alexis was in foster care for 21 years of age in Los Angeles. Alexis’s time in care was rocky, with multiple placements including both kinship care as well as congregate care. About a year ago she was adopted by her foster family and is happy to have found permanence. She... Read more

Gabrielle Wheeler, 20, Montanna’s Child welfare system. Gabrielle was separated from her family at the age of 13. She experienced 5 placements, a kinship/relative placement, three group home facilities, and foster home placement. During her time in care, Gabrielle was awarded the A.C.E award and successfully graduated high school. Thereafter... Read more

Ana Maria Sanchez-Castillo, 19, Michigan’s Child Welfare system. At the age of two, Ana Maria entered foster care, due to the passing of her mother and father. She experienced 4 different placements, 3 of those placements were relative care. During her placements, there were efforts made to support her and... Read more

Recognized as an Outstanding Young Leader by Foster Club in 2019, Courtney has utilized her unique lived experience in Washington State’s foster care to make a positive impact on the system she and her sibling were forced to navigate. She has spent time in employment roles as a Case Manager... Read more