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Resources for Professionals
Pursuing permanency for older youth requires engaging young people every step along the way. The resources in this section will help child welfare and legal professionals learn how to partner with young people and integrate youth voice in policies and practices. Resources and information from Children’s Bureau grantees are also provided.
Youth engagement in action:
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative created A Framework for Effectively Partnering With Young People, which includes the following four components:
- Youth-Adult Partnership
- Preparation
- Opportunity
- Support
The Capacity Building Center for States offers Strategies for Authentic Integration of Family and Youth Voice in Child Welfare, which includes key steps and a matrix of how to achieve authentic engagement in the following activities:
- Initial ask
- Identification of skills required
- Timing of request
- Goals and objectives
- Family or youth role
- Preparation and planning
- Debriefing
- Addressing challenges
“Try to get youth to really think long term and help them understand the importance of securing permanent figures in their life who can support them wherever they are.”—Jo
“Respect for the youth is the most important thing—realizing that these choices being made affect lives.”—Teresa
“Elizabeth stuck with me after I left my first college, after I became homeless, and despite the consistently bad attitude I presented due to my lack of trust….She believed, encouraged, and remained kind even during my hardest times.”—Real Life Story
Listen and learn more: Voices of Youth Narratives and Voices of Youth Videos
