The aim of this work is to drastically change the systemic challenges that youth—specifically older or “transition-age” youth (TAY) of color—who are or have been involved with the foster care system experience.
We believe that, working in tandem with the young people most impacted by the foster care system, we can develop intentional, authentic, and anti-racist policy strategies that dismantle racist systems and begin to develop the policies, community resources, and infrastructure that truly support youth in achieving their goals. Through this combination of local system change efforts, building the capacity of youth to take action in their community, and developing and advancing a national policy agenda, we believe that we can affect real change to meaningfully address the needs of youth transitioning out of foster care.
Our Approach
We are accomplishing this work through an approach that centers youth empowerment, policy development, and narrative change. The first and most important step of this work is to establish cohorts of transition-aged youth—or Youth Ambassadors—who will guide and direct CSSP staff, ensuring that our work centers their lived experience and meets their unique needs as young people. Working specifically in Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, and Atlanta, GA, we will:
- Identify structural challenges.
- Create anti-racist policies.
- Disrupt and replace harmful narratives.
Learn more about this work and the CARES Ambassadors at www.CARES4Power.org.
This work is generously funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Additional Resources
By recruiting three cohorts of Youth Ambassadors, selected in Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, and Atlanta, GA (each of the cities in which we are conducting our work) to function as our advisors, we will ensure that our work is both authentically youth-serving AND empowers the young people to develop important leadership skills. Each cohort will be deeply involved in all steps of the work and centered in all parts of the co-design process. Their lived experience is the most important resource we have to authentically proceed in this work.
Learn more about this work and the CARES Ambassadors at www.CARES4Power.org.
Through a community analysis, an adaptation of our Institutional Analysis methodology, we are seeking to understand how communities are able to affirm, include, and support youth transitioning out of foster care. Investigative teams will apply qualitative tools and analysis to understand how communities are organized to support youth aging out of the child welfare system. This includes examining current concepts, theories, policies, initiatives, and accountability mechanisms that serve to create the current conditions youth are experiencing and provide the opportunities for improvement.
Learn more about this work and the CARES Ambassadors at www.CARES4Power.org.
Working directly with the Youth Ambassadors, we will co-design a national anti-racist and intersectional policy agenda. This agenda will center youth experiences and prioritize the needs of youth currently and previously involved with the child welfare system. Reflecting the goals and priorities of the Youth Ambassadors, the agenda will include policies beyond child welfare as youth are impacted by multiple systems. The Youth Ambassadors will also work in their state and local communities to advance anti-racist and international policies.
Learn more about this work and the CARES Ambassadors at www.CARES4Power.org.
To change the existing negative narrative—or damage imagery—about youth who are or who have been involved in the foster care system, we will co-design a national narrative change campaign that will identify, dismantle, and, ultimately, replace harmful damage imagery with a narrative that affirms the valuable and valued lived experience of youth who have been touched by the foster care system.
Learn more about this work and the CARES Ambassadors at www.CARES4Power.org.
We believe that we owe young adults meaningful opportunities, including fulfilling jobs that pay a living wage, have predictable hours, and provide workplace protections; housing that is safe, healthy, and stable; health care that is affordable and affirming, and includes supports for managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health needs; and for those who are parenting, affordable and responsive child care. This policy agenda reimagines how policy supports young people. A product of a collaboration between CARES Ambassadors and CSSP, the agenda seeks to advance policy that supports young people in their families and communities, respects and affirms their whole identity, and sets us all up for success. Learn more about A Policy Agenda for a Nation that CARES for Young Adults here.
Using an adaptation of CSSP’s Institutional Analysis methodology, CARES conducted a strategic analysis designed to understand how communities are able to affirm, include, and support youth transitioning out of foster care. Investigative teams applied qualitative tools and analysis to understand how communities are organized to support youth aging out of the child welfare system. As part of the analysis, teams also examined current concepts, theories, policies, initiatives, and accountability mechanisms that serve to create the current conditions youth are experiencing and provide the opportunities for improvement.
Learn more about Understanding How Transition Age Youth Experience Their Communities here.
The Team
Our Experts
Ericka Francois
Communications Coordinator
Esi Hutchful
Senior Policy Analyst
Liz Squibb
Senior Associate
Shadi Houshyar
Director of Health Justice Policy
Leonard Burton
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alexandra (Alex) Citrin, MSW, MPP
Director of Family Autonomy and Child Welfare Policy
