Youth Perspective

The National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council creates recommendations that child welfare leaders, workers, and policymakers can use to improve and support lifelong connections for young people in and from foster care. The Council's first priorities created in 2012 elevated the need for preparation for and meaningful engagement of young people in their own permanency. This year, Council...

The National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council creates recommendations that child welfare leaders, workers, and policymakers can use to improve and support the well-being and mental health of children and youth who experience foster care. The priorities created in 2012 by the Council elevated how effective youth engagement can support increased well-being for young people in foster care...

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. For the second year in a row, it is recognized as a federal holiday in the United States. What you may not know is why Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated and how it’s connected to Native youth in foster care today. Indigenous Peoples’ Day seeks to recognize the resilience, sovereignty and contributions of Native people...

“My emotional health has been really impacted during the pandemic. I have to pay for professional support out of pocket; I’ve been choosing that over having enough food.” I’m a 25-year old who spent 2 years in foster care. I’ve been taking care of myself and two of my siblings during this pandemic. I’m working 2 jobs, going to school...

I’m trying to connect with several hundred young people who experienced foster care in my state. Unless I reach them in the next day, I won’t be able to help them because they won’t be eligible for pandemic relief after September 30th. I’m a lived experience leader who is now working in child welfare in my state*. In my role...

As the pandemic drags on, young people from foster care are continuing to struggle with employment, school and housing instability. The pandemic relief provided by Congress for older youth from foster care has been making a huge difference in helping young people navigate these challenges, but unfortunately much of this help is set to expire at the end of September...