Vision
The Action Network envisions national and state child welfare systems that ensure physical and mental well-being, permanency, education and career opportunities, economic security and self-sufficiency for all foster youth.
The Action Network also envisions that national policy makers and state child welfare systems involve, as equal partners, current and former foster youth in the development of child welfare policy.
Mission
The National Foster Youth Action Network builds leadership and advocacy skills of current and former foster youth to educate decision makers and to work collaboratively to improve state and local child welfare systems and national policy that affects the lives of foster youth.
Programs
The Action Network is a spin-off organization of California Youth Connection (CYC) where Janet Knipe was Executive Director for over 14 years. The Action Network’s philosophy mirror sCYC’s regarding the importance of youth voice, and the organization is scaling up the successful model pioneered at CYC using the same training and technical assistance with foster youth and staff of community-based organizations. These organizations are the network of program partners of the Action Network.
As a program partner, youth and supportive adults select training to meet their needs from an extensive menu of topics. The Action Network has more than 100 pieces of training curricula to choose from.
For example, the Action Network can help foster youth learn how to advocate with legislators and policymakers on issues such as:
- Improving access to college or increasing transitional housing services
- Improving social worker or mental health services
- Sibling togetherness
- Improving Independent Living Programs or post-emancipation services
Or, if the group wants help getting organized, the Action Network can help foster youth:
- Develop their mission statement and group goals
- Learn how policy gets made in their state
- Learn how to chair and run a meeting so it’s completely youth-led
- Develop a solid decision-making process so everyone gets heard
Or, if the group wants to raise public awareness of foster care issues, the Action Network can help foster youth organize a:
- Youth conference that educates policymakers about foster care issues
- Community Dinner that educates the community about foster care issues
Unique Value Proposition
- A proven, tested, replicable model of youth development and a well-developed training curriculum for foster and emancipated youth backed by extensive evaluation and data
- An approach that allows youth to leverage their passion and expertise into concrete results that lead to personal growth for them and exponential cost savings for counties and states
- Innovative practices and a brand that stands for truly meaningful youth engagement in local and national child welfare policymaking
- A dual focus on leadership development and policy change that results in transformational personal development and high-impact policymaking
- The creation and development of a national network of foster youth led organizations for sharing knowledge and best practices
