State Youth Advocacy/Advisory Boards & Foster Care Alumni Associations

State Youth Advocacy/Advisory Boards & Foster Care Alumni Associations

Series: Related Organizations Lists
Author(s): Child Welfare Information Gateway

Includes State Youth Advisory Boards and Councils, State-based advocacy groups, and Foster Care Alumni Associations.

Alaska

Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA)
Alaska
Phone: (907) 748-1845
FFCA is a youth-driven group that works to support foster youth and alumni, and improve the foster care system in Alaska.
nadid: 28419

Arizona

Foster Care Alumni of America
Arizona
Phone: (480) 387-4940
The Arizona Chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, chartered in April 2007, focuses on social networking and engagement of alumni and allies, in addition to advocacy for policy change, in Arizona and nationwide.
nadid: 28439

California

California Youth Connection (CYC)
California
Toll-Free: (800) 397-8236
CYC is a youth-led organization that develops leaders who empower each other and their communities to transform the foster care system through legislative, policy, and practice change.
nadid: 28443

Colorado

Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC)
Colorado
The COYAC gives young people a voice in the policymaking process and provides an opportunity for students to make recommendations to the Colorado State Legislature. The program enhances and encourages civic engagement and education among young people.
nadid: 28444

Florida

Florida Youth Shine
Florida
Phone: (954) 796-0860
Florida Youth SHINE (Striving High for INdependence and Empowerment) is a youth-run, peer-driven organization that empowers current and former foster youth to become leaders and advocates within their communities. Florida Youth SHINE has 12 chapters across the Sunshine State.
nadid: 28764
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Florida
FCAA leadership is currently with alumni in this State to reengage the Chapter.
nadid: 28445

Georgia

Georgia EmpowerMEnt
Georgia
Phone: (404) 880-9323
MAAC, or the Mult-Agency Alliance for Children, is a collaboration between nine agencies that network together to provide placement and support for at-risk youth in Georgia. EmpowerMEnt is a MAAC initiative founded by former and current foster youth in Georgia who are working with community leaders to change the foster care system.
nadid: 28765
Foster Care Alumni of Georgia
Georgia
The Georgia Chapter focuses on connections with foster care alumni in addition to tackling the homeless foster youth crisis in Georgia.
nadid: 28446

Hawaii

Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition
Hawaii
Phone: (808) 545-5683
The mission of the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition is to assist youth in the foster care system to see the infinite pathways and possibilities of their lives, advice and advocate for opportunities for youth in care, and allow youth to enjoy a productive present and a successful future.
nadid: 28479

Idaho

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Idaho
FCAA leadership is currently with alumni in this State to reengage the Chapter.
nadid: 28480

Illinois

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Illinois
The Illinois Chapter of FCAA works on connecting alumni through community events and advocating to improve the foster care system. The mission of the Chapter is to encourage young adults from foster care by empowering them to strive to be the best despite their circumstances.
nadid: 28481

Indiana

Fostering Youth Connections of Indiana (FYCI)
Indiana
Phone: (510) 528-7440
Each year, FYCI holds its Leaders for Change convening to bring together a group of powerful foster youth leaders from across the country. Leaders for Change is a 3-day, peer-to-peer learning and support network where participants have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with one another, share advocacy strategy, and meet key stakeholders.
nadid: 28482

Iowa

Iowa Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP)
Iowa
Phone: (515) 233-2250
The mission of AMP is to surround youth with supports as they transition to adulthood by using education, mentoring, life-skills instruction, and leadership development. It is their goal to empower all youth to become self-advocates and active community members.
nadid: 28483

Kansas

FosterAdopt Connect Kansas
Kansas
Phone: (816) 350-0215
FosterAdopt Connect Kansas (Olathe, KS) is a nonprofit organization that specializes in solving problems for kids and families involved in and affected by the child welfare system. Their mission is to provide foster and adopted children a stable, loving, and nurturing family environment by support and advocacy for abused and neglected children and the families caring for them.
nadid: 28485

Kentucky

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Kentucky
Phone: (703) 299-6767
FCAA leadership is currently with alumni in this State to reengage the Chapter.
nadid: 28486
The True Up Youth Advisory Council
Kentucky
Phone: (502) 536-3734
The True Up Youth Advisory Council is a group of current and former foster youth who have come together to support one another and advocate for change in the foster care system. They are all working together to improve the child welfare system and the lives of children in care.
nadid: 28487

Louisiana

Louisiana Youth Leadership Advisory Council
Louisiana
Phone: (225) 342-3936
The Advisory Council provides increased youth voice in the foster care system, including evaluation of policy and practice, making recommendations for change, and being a tool to advocate and educate.
nadid: 28488

Maine

Youth Leadership Advisory Team (YLAT)
Maine
Toll-Free: 1-877-792-9528
The Youth Leadership Advisory Team is a joint project between Maine’s Youth in Foster Care, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and the Muskie School at University of Southern Maine. YLAT is committed to improving the short-term and long-term outcomes for youth who are or have been in foster care.
nadid: 28491
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Maine
Phone: (703) 299-6767
FCAA leadership is currently working with alumni in this State to reengage the Chapter.
nadid: 28490

Maryland

Maryland Department of Human Resources, Youth Advisory Board
Maryland
Phone: (443) 378-4539
The Youth Advisory Board, comprised of youth in foster care and independent living, meets every month to discuss their lives, school, social situations, and other topics. They also provide valuable input to Baltimore City Social Services on how to improve foster care. The Youth Advisory Board holds special events, field trips, dinners, and offers great connections and networking opportunities.
nadid: 28459
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Maryland
Phone: (703) 299-6767
FCAA leadership is currently working with alumni in this State to reengage the Chapter.
nadid: 28442

Massachusetts

MA Network of Foster Care Alumni (MassNFCA)
Massachusetts
Toll-Free: (877)624-3440
MassNFCA is an association of foster alumni and allies working on behalf of people in Massachusetts who experienced out-of-home care. The mission of MassNFCA is to develop opportunities for peer support, education, service, and leadership among the members.
nadid: 28463
Massachusetts Youth Advisory Board
Massachusetts
Phone: (617) 748-2000
The Youth Advisory Board provides a medium for youth to voice their ideas/recommendations to the administration on issues facing youth served by the agency. Each Region has an Advisory Board; representatives from each region sit on the Central Office Advisory Board, representing their peers from across the State.
nadid: 28462
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Massachusetts
Phone: (508) 263-0021
The vision of FCAA of Massachusetts is to equip alumni with the tools necessary to realize their dreams and to encourage, inspire, and support youth in care to be tomorrow’s leaders. The local mission of this Chapter is to make the greatest impact possible for alumni by forging new pathways to opportunity through education, advocacy, and access to resources.
nadid: 28461

Michigan

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Michigan
The FCAA Michigan Chapter works to unify youth by creating a platform for them to speak from. Their mission is to ensure foster care youth live healthy lives and become empowered by the potential that they hold.
nadid: 28464

Minnesota

Foster Alumni Minnesota
Minnesota
The mission of Foster Alum Minnesota is to connect, support, and inspire alumni of foster care with a professional and social network through peer-to-peer networking, education, employment, advocacy, policy, and leadership development.
nadid: 28469

Mississippi

The Mississippi Teen Advisory Board
Mississippi
Phone: (601) 359-4368
The Mississippi Teen Advisory Board—a group of 30 young people in the Mississippi foster care system—outlines a set of recommendations designed to help the State take a more youth-centered approach to designing foster care services.
nadid: 28472

Missouri

Missouri State Youth Advisory Board (SYAB)
Missouri
Toll-Free: (800) 735-2966
The mission of the SYAB is to empower out-of-home youth to provide input into the policies and procedures for out-of-home care; to provide meaningful leadership training and experiences for board members; and to empower board members who, in turn, can empotheyr children and youth who have experienced out-of-home care. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis.
nadid: 28476
Foster Care Alumni Association of Missouri (FAAM)
Missouri
FAAM is an alumni-led, membership-based association dedicated to linking foster care alumni to community resources, information, opportunities, tools, and each other.
nadid: 28475

Montana

Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
Montana
Phone: (406) 541-6891
Established by EmpowerMT, YAC is committed to developing youth leaders and values creating authentic representation of constituencies at all levels of the organization.
nadid: 28477

Nevada

Foster Care Alumni of America
Nevada
FCAA of Nevada is interested in bringing public awareness by engaging child welfare professionals and the media in conversations surrounding the needs of foster children and aged-out youth.
nadid: 28440
The Nevada Youth Advisory Board
Nevada
Phone: (775) 684-4444
Nevada Life is a statewide organization of young people ages of 14–21 who have experienced foster care. The Board provides a forum for youth to gain information about the foster care system and share ideas on ways that the system can be improved. The purpose of the Board is to develop channels of communication between youth and the community and distribute information to youth in and out of foster care.
nadid: 28441

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Teen Voices DCYF/DJJS Youth Advisory Board
New Hampshire
Phone: (603) 271-4451
Toll-Free: (800) 852-3345
The NH Teen Voices DCYF/DJJS Youth Advisory Board is made up of teens in out of home care between the ages of 14 and 21. The board's mission is to make a difference for youth in care by voicing opinions for positive change.
nadid: 28465
New England Youth Coalition Council (NEYC)
New Hampshire
Phone: (617) 278-4272
NEYC is the New England Youth Coalition originated from a Breakthrough Series Collaborative on adolescent permanency. NEYC has members from advisory boards in all six New England States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont). NEYC consists of current and alumni foster youth and adult allies working together to better the quality of life for youth involved with the foster care system through education, advocacy, and improvement of policy and practice.
nadid: 28460

New Jersey

New Jersey Youth Advisory Board
New Jersey
Phone: (908) 202-0762
The New Jersey Youth Advisory Board is a place for current and former foster youth to gather and discuss how to improve the policies, procedures, and services provided to them by the Department of Children and Families, specifically the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. It is also a place for young people to connect with each other; eat food; enjoy exciting activities; and build important advocacy, leadership, and professional skills.
nadid: 28466

New Mexico

Leaders Uniting Voices Youth Advocates of NM (LUVYANM)
New Mexico
LUVYANM members wish to advocate for all foster youth and former foster youth in New Mexico by improving the child welfare system and legislation through an ongoing dialogue between the council/board and the department.
nadid: 28467

New York

Youth in Progress
New York
Youth in Progress (YIP) promotes positive youth development, supports adult/youth partnerships, and adolescents in achieving successful outcomes. Its mission is to enhance and advance the lives of foster youth by supporting their sense of self and responsibility. To do this, YIP pledges to educate everyone involved in the various systems YIP members represent, to the realities of this experience.
nadid: 29204

North Carolina

Foster Care Alumni of America
North Carolina
FCAA of North Carolina focuses on transitional training for youth aging out of foster care. Located in Charlotte, NC, members meet once a month via conference call and at different locations around the area.
nadid: 28519

North Dakota

North Dakota's Youth Leadership Independent Living Board
North Dakota
Phone: (701)-328-4934
This website was designed by a large group of youth from North Dakota's Youth Leadership Independent Living Board. This site is dedicated to all the youth of North Dakota and was created especially for youth who are involved in foster care, juvenile justice, and mental health systems.
nadid: 28468

Ohio

Alumni ACTION
Ohio
Alumni Action brings together the voices of youth, alumni, and allies to create lasting change and generate hope for current and former foster youth, based on access to resources, ally support, and alumni expertise.
nadid: 28470
Ohio Youth Advisory Board
Ohio
The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) is a statewide organization of young people (aged 14–24) who have experienced foster care.
nadid: 28471

Oklahoma

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCCA)
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Chapter of FCCA was made official in April 17, 2016. Their mission is to represent, connect, and transform for those in and from foster care in Oklahoma.
nadid: 28473

Pennsylvania

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCCA)
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Chapter of FCCA promotes higher education, unites alumni at reunions and awareness events, mentors youth currently in care, and strengthens their voice through valuable partnerships.
nadid: 28478
Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Youth Advisory Board (YAB) strives to educate, advocate, and form partnerships to create positive change in the child welfare system.
nadid: 29601

Rhode Island

Foster Leaders: Rhode Island Updates (Facebook)
Rhode Island
The goal of this page is to serve as a place where foster youth, foster parents, child welfare professionals, foster youth advocates, and others looking for child welfare related information can seek or share resources, event updates, and other information that benefits a group involved in child welfare at some level.
nadid: 28484
The Voice: Youth Leadership Training and Empowerment Board
Rhode Island
Phone: (401) 438-3900
The Voice Youth Leadership Training & Empowerment Board is a motivated group of teenagers and young adults working together for positive change in the foster care system. It was formed through collaborative efforts between Foster Forward (formerly the Rhode Island Foster Parents Association) and the Rhode Island Council of Resource Providers (RICORP).
nadid: 28489

South Carolina

Go Out and Learn Life
South Carolina
Go Out & Learn Life (GOALL) is the state youth advisory board for the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS). GOALL’s primary purpose is to focus on Independent Living programs by advising SCDSS on child welfare policy and practice in the state and advocating on behalf of the needs of all youth currently in foster care and as they prepare to transition out of foster care.
nadid: 28492

Tennessee

Tennessee Youth 4 Youth Leadership Board
Tennessee
It is the vision of Tennessee Leaders to develop statewide and regional youth boards that will provide increased youth voice in the foster care system.
nadid: 28494
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCCA)
Tennessee
FCAA leadership is currently with alumni in this State to reengage the Chapter.
nadid: 28493

Texas

Statewide Youth Leadership Council (YLC)
Texas
Phone: (512) 438-3769
The Statewide YLC includes youth in foster care ages 16 to 21; it provides a forum to address issues that affect children and youth. The Statewide YLC allows youth in foster care to make recommendations to the Department of Family and Protective Services on ways to improve the child welfare system in Texas, and, as a result, achieve positive outcomes for children and youth in foster care.
nadid: 28699
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCCA)
Texas
Phone: (512) 900-1631
The Texas Chapter of FCCA started in 2008. Their Chapter meetings are held virtually, and most of their events are held in the capital city of Austin. Their Chapter liaisons network all over the State to assist alumni, youth, and nonprofits.
nadid: 28495
Voices for Change
Texas
Phone: (832) 718-1785
Founded in 2014 and facilitated by One Voice Texas, Voices for Change is a collaborative effort among alumni of the foster care system and other stakeholders to improve policy and practice for youth in and alumni of the foster care system in Texas.
nadid: 28496

Vermont

Youth Development Program (YDP)
Vermont
Phone: (802) 229-9151
YDP is a voluntary program provided statewide for youth who have spent time in foster care. YDP's Committee provides a forum for current and former foster youth. Learn how to work within the foster care system to implement policy and legislative changes that impact current and former foster youth, advocate for legislative changes, and portray a positive image of foster youth within their communities.
nadid: 28497

Virginia

Great Expectations
Virginia
Great Expectations is a national leader in creating promising futures for young Virginians who have experienced foster care.
nadid: 28499
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCCA)
Virginia
The Virginia Chapter of FCAA started in February 2008. The Virginia Chapter has members in Richmond, Northern, Piedmont, and Southwest regions of the State. Because members are spread across Virginia, most of the meetings are held via conference call, although there are regional face-to-face meetings periodically.
nadid: 28498

Washington

The Mockingbird Society
Washington
Phone: (206) 323-5437
The Mocking Bird Youth Network trains young people who have been in foster care to become their own best advocates. Through training, youth development activities, and direct involvement with system reform, youth gain leadership experience, advocacy skills, and confidence while making positive changes to policies that affect all youth impacted by foster care or homelessness in Washington and beyond.
nadid: 28501
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Washington
The Washington Chapter of FCAA is committed to improving foster care through public awareness events like the annual Foster Care Walk and social support to members and nonmembers alike. FCAA volunteers with organizations that provide direct services to foster youth and speaking with law makers.
nadid: 28500
Passion to Action (Youth Led Advisory Board)
Washington
Passion to Action is an organization of youth, ages 14–24, who are or have been in foster care in Washington State.
nadid: 28502

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council
Wisconsin
Phone: (414) 324-8204
It is the vision of Wisconsin to further develop a system of youth councils that will provide increased youth voice in the foster care system. In utilizing youth from all five regions of Wisconsin, State leadership will be able to utilize members that have displayed commitment, achievement, accomplishment, leadership, and presentation skills to develop a Speaker's Bureau for providing presentations and trainings.
nadid: 28503

Wyoming

Wyoming Independent Living (WIL) – Youth Advisory Council
Wyoming
WIL focuses on raising awareness about issues affecting youth and people with disabilities, and impact community through advocacy and service projects.
nadid: 28504