National Foster Youth Institute

Want to be a part of the movement to get foster youth in decision-making rooms like this? Here's how: get moving—literally– this Thanksgiving weekend! Join our Virtual 5K by donating, registering, or sponsoring a friend or family member. 5K sponsors and participants contribute to the very programming allowing for lived experience experts to have a seat at the decision-making table. Amplify #FosterYouthVoices and get active in our #FosterYouth5K. Use this link: https://bit.ly/nfyi5k2024 to donate, register, and sponsor!

NFYI member Rebecca Rowley and Director of Government Relations Director Cortez Carey attended the Achieving Success: Transition-Age Young Adults for a Strong Tomorrow Convening hosted by Youth Villages. Through attending panels and participating in workshops with national thought partners, including lived experience experts like Rebecca, they learned about the benefits and resources available in other states that are improving outcomes for transition-age youth. We are grateful for these conversations that allow us to work together on practical solutions to help Transition Age Youth reach better outcomes! Thank you to Youth Villages for inviting us.

As you may know, some states take foster youth assets (like Social Security, SSI, Veterans benefits, savings, and property) to cover their cost of care. Several decision-makers are calling for changes to this practice. Congressmember Danny Davis’ office is gathering quotes from young adults with lived experience in foster care who have been affected by this practice, to share their experiences, recommendations, or both to be included in calls to action for change. If you’d like to have your voice included please submit a quote or statement using this Google Form: https://lnkd.in/d9gTUAtz or by emailing [email protected]. Quotes are needed by Thanksgiving. Statements might include how the state charging you for your care impacted you or the impact on your life that having full access to benefits had.

What do all of these photos have in common? They all include community members moving to amplify?#FosterYouthVoices. By joining the hundreds of people participating in our Foster Youth Virtual 5K you help raise critical awareness for foster youth and essential funds for our programming that helps transform the child welfare system. Register today at this link: https://bit.ly/nfyi5k2024 and join in the fun this Thanksgiving weekend!

Wanting to take action on impacting foster youth this month? Our virtual 5K is a great way to make an impact! Join us Thanksgiving weekend and register now https://bit.ly/nfyi5k2024

Help Us Transform the Foster Care System—5K at a Time! ?? This Thanksgiving weekend, we’re coming together to make an impact—5 kilometers at a time! ?? Our Annual Virtual 5K is just around the corner, and registration is now open. This is a great opportunity to get active, enjoy the fall season, and most importantly, support a cause that uplifts foster youth voices across the country. Why participate? Move for a cause: Your movement, whether it's walking, running, swimming, or anything distanced, helps support programming to foster youth awareness and development. Get involved: It's a virtual event, so you can participate from anywhere, anytime over the Thanksgiving weekend. We ask that you wear Foster Care Awareness teal while participating to show your support! Spread the word: Share this post with your network! Tell a friend to tell a friend—we’d love to get everyone involved in making an impact! Let us be the change we want to see! Click the link below to register, donate, and join us! https://bit.ly/nfyi5k2024

What does community mean to you? To NFYI it means coming together to transform foster care. This Thanksgiving break, we are urging supporters to take part in that transformation by joining in our Virtual 5K! Put on Foster Care Awareness blue and move in any way for 5K. Your movement helps to support the development of the Foster Youth leaders we work with throughout the year. Not ready to run? That's okay, you can sponsor a community member's 5K and still help us lift up foster youth voices! Register and donate here: https://bit.ly/4e1OCgb

Happening right now: we are officially wrapping up a 10-month journey for an incredible group of foster youth activists from across the country! The 2024 Congressional Leadership Academy included: - Over 30 lived experience experts that now have new skills and a broader network - Engagement with nearly 40 members of the U.S. Congress & Senate - Two national press conferences - One piece of federal legislation introduced - One Capitol Hill Town Hall - One Virtual Congressional Convening - Two internship offers - One dance party - Countless conversations that centered #FosterYouthVoices - Thousands of children and families impacted as a result of this program

Congratulations to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation on another incredible Phoenix Awards! And thank you to Casey Family Programs for hosting NFYI at this celebration of the CBC’s growth and impact. NFYI ED Rebecca Louve Yao and Government Relations Director Cortez Carey joined Casey Family Programs President & CEO William Bell and EVP David Sanders, among others.

Children and young adults in foster care should NOT be unhoused. Period. Thank you to NFYI LA Chapter member Iziko for speaking to the Los Angeles Times about their experience navigating the child welfare system, homelessness, and health issues. We are so proud of Iziko for not only being a strong advocate for themselves, but a powerful advocate for others, too. Iziko was among a group of foster youth activists who joined NFYI in May for the LA Foster Youth Shadow Day. This impactful day sparked ideas and action around housing and mental health and we thank LA City Councilmembers and the Board of Supervisors for their continued engagement. Read Iziko's story here: https://lnkd.in/eMeQrNDp