Among Us: Invisible Experiences Impacting Youth

From Woe to ‘Whoa!’: Foster Youth Advocating for Change

When it comes to system reform, the perspectives we should pay the most attention to are those who know the system best: individuals with lived experience. Our final episode of this season features two young changemakers using their experiences in foster care to help create a better reality for youth today. Eve Aaliyah Valdez is a youth activist with California Youth Connection, a youth-led organization that aims to transform foster care. Demontea Thompson is a doctoral candidate in the UCLA School of Education, a foster care researcher, and co-founder of Twinspire, a nonprofit organization that provides financial literacy to young people with foster care experience. How can we better prioritize basic needs for foster youth? What happens when we invite young people with lived experience to actively participate in research and reform processes?  Guest speaker 1: Eve Aaliyah Valdez, Youth Activist, California Youth Connection [https://calyouthconn.org/] Guest speaker 2: Demontea Thompson [https://tinyurl.com/588v7cyt], Executive Director & co-founder, Together We Inspire [https://twinspire.org/home]; Doctoral Candidate & Researcher, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies  Interviewer: Angela James [https://tinyurl.com/37m853w2], Senior Project Scientist, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools  Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Angela James is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic. Join the CTS mailing list [https://tinyurl.com/ff2xsbyk] Follow CTS [https://linktr.ee/Transformschoolsucla] or share your thoughts with us at ctschools@ucla.edu [ctschools@ucla.edu]. Show Notes: * Foster(ing) Youth in the California State University [https://tinyurl.com/3u3v58xn] (UCLA CTS report, 2023). * DCFS [https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/] (Department of Children and Family Services) * Children’s Institute [https://www.childrensinstitute.org/] * United Friends [https://www.unitedfriends.org/] * Alan Dettlaff [https://tinyurl.com/2dyk5esu] * Dorothy Roberts [https://tinyurl.com/7y4m66jw] * Chafee Grant [https://chafee.csac.ca.gov/] * THP-Plus [https://tinyurl.com/5y7v8dsu] (Transitional Housing Program Plus) * ILP [https://tinyurl.com/88e7ftae] (Independent Living Program) * CASA [https://tinyurl.com/2ptnvf3u] (Court Appointed Special Advocates) * Medi-Cal [https://tinyurl.com/ds7cjsbf] * Self-harm crisis line [https://tinyurl.com/4rzwdee2] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Aging Out: The Next Chapter After Foster Care

Transition-age foster youth are young people between 16 and 25 years old who are transitioning out of the foster care system and into adulthood. Many of them are not prepared to live independently or have a strong support system to lean on. They may need help with finding stable housing or employment, paying for college, and curating supportive relationships they can rely on. Youth aging out of care could also be experiencing trauma and other challenges in addition to these transitions. We speak with Amy Dworsky and Liz Squibb about the common obstacles foster youth face as they age out of care, and actions we can take to better support youth and families. What happens after foster youth age out of care? What supports do they need to thrive as adults? Guest speaker 1: Amy Dworsky [https://www.chapinhall.org/person/amy-dworsky/], Senior Research Fellow, Chapin Hall Guest speaker 2: Liz Squibb [https://cssp.org/team/liz-squibb/], Senior Associate, Center for the Study of Social Policy [https://cssp.org/] Interviewer: Dr. Joseph Bishop, Executive Director & co-founder, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Joseph Bishop is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic. Join the CTS mailing list [http://transformschools.ucla.edu/sign-up/] Follow CTS [https://linktr.ee/Transformschoolsucla] or share your thoughts with us at ctschools@ucla.edu [ctschools@ucla.edu]. Show Notes: * Youth in Transition (Aging Out) [https://www.aecf.org/topics/youth-in-transition] * Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 26 [https://www.chapinhall.org/research/midwest-evaluation-of-the-adult-functioning-of-former-foster-youth/] (Courtney, et al., 2011). * Foster(ing) Youth in the California State University: Understanding the Vital Role of Campus Support Programs [https://transformschools.ucla.edu/research/fostering-youth-in-the-california-state-university-understanding-the-vital-role-of-campus-support-programs/] (UCLA CTS report, 2023). * FUP (Family Unification Program) [https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/family] * FYI (Foster Youth to Independence) Program [https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/fyi] * Annie E. Casey Foundation [https://www.aecf.org/] * Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative [https://www.aecf.org/work/child-welfare/jim-casey-youth-opportunities-initiative]  * Child Tax Credit [https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Breaking Through Barriers: Foster Youth Navigating Higher Education

Nationally, only 3 out of 100 foster youth graduate with a bachelor's degree by age 26. Recent legislation in some states aims to increase this number by covering the full cost of in-state college attendance. However, students with foster care experience need a tremendous amount of support beyond financial aid to thrive in college and beyond, in areas such as life skills, housing and finances, self-care, and dependable relationships with trusted adults. Scholars Kizzy Lopez and Nate Okpych join us to uplift the real barriers that foster youth face in accessing higher education, navigating college and campus life, and support programs that some campuses offer for foster youth. How can we create better pathways for foster youth to attend college and support them through their college years? Guest speaker 1: Kizzy Lopez, Director of Student Success, Basic Needs & Retention, Fresno City College; former Program Coordinator, Renaissance Scholars Program, California State University, Fresno Guest speaker 2: Nate Okpych [https://www.nateokpych.com/about-nate-okpych], Associate Professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work Interviewer: Audra Langley, [https://dpbh.ucla.edu/audra-langley-phd/] Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Health Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics; Director, UCLA TIES for Families; Co-Director, UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families; Faculty Advisory Board member, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Audra Langley is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic. Join the CTS mailing list [http://transformschools.ucla.edu/sign-up/] Follow CTS [https://linktr.ee/Transformschoolsucla] or share your thoughts with us at ctschools@ucla.edu [ctschools@ucla.edu]. Show Notes: * 3% of foster youth [https://tinyurl.com/4zusc9fa] graduate with a bachelor’s degree by age 26  * Foster Youth Campus Support Programs in California [https://tinyurl.com/yyva487v] * UCLA CTS report, Foster(ing) Youth in the California State University: Understanding the Vital Role of Campus Support Programs [https://tinyurl.com/55z9bhbe] * John Burton Advocates for Youth [https://jbay.org/] * Post-Secondary Education Experiences and Attainment Among Youth With Foster Care Backgrounds [https://tinyurl.com/4u77xc2e] * National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni and Higher Education [https://www.nrc-fahe.org/] * Californians For Justice [https://caljustice.org/]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Statewide Policy & Collaboration for Foster Youth

Get a glimpse into the inner workings of state government and how elected officials and state agencies are working to support foster youth. This episode highlights perspectives from two different states: Jamie Burciaga, Colorado State Coordinator for Foster Care Education, and Isaac G. Bryan, California Assemblymember (55th District – Los Angeles), who will share his experiences in foster care and the legislative changes he is advocating for on behalf of foster youth. How do supports for foster youth vary from state to state, and what promising practices can we uplift? How can we work through bureaucratic barriers to form fruitful partnerships? Guest speaker 1: Isaac G. Bryan, [https://a55.asmdc.org/] California State Assemblymember (55th District – Los Angeles) Guest speaker 2: Jamie Burciaga, State Coordinator for Foster Care Education, Colorado Department of Education Interviewer: Joseph Bishop [https://transformschools.ucla.edu/team/dr-joseph-bishop/], Executive Director & co-founder, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Joseph Bishop is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic. Join the CTS mailing list [http://transformschools.ucla.edu/sign-up/] Follow CTS [https://linktr.ee/Transformschoolsucla] or share your thoughts with us at ctschools@ucla.edu [ctschools@ucla.edu]. Show Notes: * Foster Care Education [https://tinyurl.com/4mhd4jf5] in Colorado * Highly Mobile Youth [https://tinyurl.com/4j8vfdsh] * Every Student Succeeds Act [https://tinyurl.com/mwynwup3] (ESSA) * Child Welfare Education Liaisons [https://tinyurl.com/4m78u79k] in Colorado * Court Appointed Special Advocates [https://tinyurl.com/4cwa7md6] * Educational Stability Grant Program [https://tinyurl.com/27jyawh5] * Colorado SB22-008 [https://tinyurl.com/2xdkykrm] * Education Training Voucher [https://www.fc2sprograms.org/faqs/] program * Child support arrears [https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/california-stops-charging-parents-for-kids-in-foster-care/246421#:~:text=California%20Stops%20Charging%20Parents%20for%20Their,Foster%20Care%2C%20and%20Eliminates%20Arrears&text=California%20Assemblymember%20Isaac%20Bryan%20has,Photo%20by%20Karlos%20Rene%20Ayala] and Bryan’s bill * Bryan’s bill to improve family placement rates [https://ahum.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2024-04/ab-3217-bryan.pdf] * Project Rebound [https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/student-success/project-rebound] * Rising Scholars Network [https://risingscholarsnetwork.org/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Lost in the System: Foster Youth in K-12 Schools

Foster youth tend to have a rough time in school. They are more likely to change homes and schools multiple times midyear, and can miss a lot of classes for reasons beyond their control. We spoke to foster youth advocate Dylan Tatom, who shared her educational experiences as a foster student and how she discovered her voice. La Shona Jenkins, who leads foster youth educational services for Los Angeles County, expressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration and supporting each foster student’s unique needs. How can schools holistically support students in foster care?  Guest speaker 1: Dylan Tatom, Youth Advisory Board Member, The Center for Fair Futures Guest speaker 2: La Shona Jenkins, Project Director, Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, Los Angeles County Office of Education Interviewer: Joseph Bishop [https://transformschools.ucla.edu/team/dr-joseph-bishop/], Executive Director & co-founder, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Joseph Bishop is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic. Join the CTS mailing list [http://transformschools.ucla.edu/sign-up/] Follow CTS [https://linktr.ee/Transformschoolsucla] or share your thoughts with us at ctschools@ucla.edu [ctschools@ucla.edu]. Show Notes: * Fair Futures Youth Advisory Board [https://www.fairfuturesny.org/yab] * Annie E. Casey Foundation Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative [https://www.aecf.org/work/child-welfare/jim-casey-youth-opportunities-initiative] * LACOE's Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) [https://www.lacoe.edu/services/student-support/foster-youth-services] * Department of Children and Family Services [https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/]  * AB 130 [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB130] * Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act [https://www.bscc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020-JJCPA-YOBG-Leg-Report-FINAL.pdf] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.