Special Events

Foster Success special events offer meaningful ways to get involved, amplify the voices of young people, and engage with those with lived foster care experience.

Breaking Down Barriers

Designed as both an awareness and friend-raising experience, this gathering invites participants to explore our five Impact Areas through a unique, immersive program led by older foster youth — bringing powerful stories and lived expertise to life.

This year, attendees explored our new office space in Downtown Indianapolis through interactive sessions that highlighted our programming.

Taste of Thanks Signature Event

As part of our FriendsGiving campaign, our signature event, Taste of Thanks brings together supporters each November during the season of connection and community. Attendees enjoy live music and the flavors of autumn and winter while hearing the lived experiences of young people.

Annually in November

Day at the Statehouse

Our annual Day at the Statehouse (DASH) event provides young people the opportunity to engage with policymakers to share their ideas on how to improve foster care in Indiana. Young people research and develop policy pitches to advocate for changes that are meaningful to them.

Annual Youth Conference

The Indiana Foster Youth Alliance (IFYA) hosts the Annual Youth Conference for young people ages 14 – 22. This event is designed by IFYA members – providing resources, education, and tools to young people. This year’s theme was “We are the Change” with keynote speaker, Lexie Butler.

NYTD Fall Festival

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) team hosts a Fall Festival each October. At the event, young people learn about the National Youth Transition Database (NYTD) through resources and activities.

NYTD helps assess the state’s extended foster care programs through collecting outcomes of young people who have aged out of care. Young people were encouraged to take the survey on-site and discussed what lawmakers can do to support older foster youth.