Improving Outcomes for Foster Youth in California Conference

Our first policy conference “Improving Outcomes for Foster Youth in California” convened by GRACE and the National Foster Youth Institute in coordination with Congresswoman Karen Bass on Monday, July 29^th at Maryvale was a valuable step in the process of identifying, gaining consensus and then implementing measures to address the gaps and weaknesses in foster care in California.

Over 200 attendees and speakers participated in the day-long conference to discuss the latest research, programs and recommendations in the following areas:

• Improving the recruitment, training and support for foster parents
• Improving comprehensive care for foster youth requiring intensive residential-based services
• Identifying and supporting at-risk families prior to intervention

Please click here to view videos of each of the presentations and panel discussions.

For a copy of Dr. Barbara Needell’s presentation “Overview of California’s Child Welfare Indicator Data,” please click here

Please click here to view answers to audience questions that could not be answered due to time constraints. All of the questions were compiled after the conference and our panelists kindly took the time to provide answers in writing.

Please click here for information on the recommendations discussed at the conference and the priorities that were later adopted through further research, discussions with key leaders and a working group made up of participants and speakers from the conference.