Policy & Practice
At Foster Success, young people drive meaningful change and influence legislation by sharing their recommendations for change based on their experiences in foster care.
We work closely with the young people involved in our programs to transform the systems they have grown up in and will continue to navigate at both the state and federal level.
Through our policy work, young people like Jo are empowered to use their voice. Today, Jo is not just finding hope, but creating hope for foster youth across the country.
Jo was intimidated to speak to legislators. She had never spoken directly with lawmakers before, or imagined the ways her story could influence policy. After being selected to participate in Foster Success’s Day at the Statehouse, an event that provides leadership and advocacy development, she spent months working with peers and staff to practice her advocacy skills, strategically share her story, and craft a policy pitch to improve how young people exiting foster care receive their medical records.
As part of the Day at the Statehouse, participants delivered a policy pitch to legislative and agency leaders who have the power to change child welfare policy. On the day of the event, Jo realized that legislators really were there to listen, learn, and serve the people they represent, including older foster youth. The experience left her with a newfound sense of confidence in her voice and ability to create change.
“[Foster Success] gave me the core fundamentals [skills] to be able to [advocate] on a national scale,” Jo said.
In March, she traveled to Washington, D.C. with President & CEO Maggie Stevens, Vice President of Programs Angel Crone, and a peer to host a briefing for staff members working for Indiana’s congressional delegates.
The briefing built on last year’s House Ways and Means, Work and Welfare Subcommittee hearing, “Aging Out Is Not a Plan: Reimagining Futures for Foster Youth,” where Maggie testified. Jo shared the impact of Chafee-supported programs, like the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program, in her journey into adulthood.
“I feel like I’ve gotten to come into my own because of what I’ve done [with Foster Success],” she said.
Empowered through her experiences in advocacy with Foster Success, Jo applied to the National Foster Youth Institute’s (NYFI) Congressional Leadership Academy program and was one of 42 people accepted from the 150 applicants. The nine-month-long program brings together young people with lived experience in foster care from around the country and equips them with skills and opportunities to drive policy changes.
It culminates in a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. There, Jo shadowed Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-California), attended advocacy workshops, sat in on a congressional subcommittee hearing, and connected with other peer advocates working to improve outcomes for teens and young adults in foster care.
Jo also worked on research to address healthcare access for young adults who age out of foster care. As a registered nurse, healthcare is deeply personal to her. She understands firsthand how policies impact young people’s ability to access care, and is committed to ensuring youth in foster care don’t face barriers in obtaining consistent healthcare during some of the most critical years of their lives.