Learn to prepare transgender children and youth for court and support them in the courtroom.

Offers guidelines and practical suggestions for shifting from a child-focused system that is often reactive, case plan-driven, and protection-focused to a youth-focused system that is proactive, youth-driven, developmentally framed, and normalcy focused.

Explore tips to help promote youth mental health and wellness services, jurisdictional highlights, and links to relevant resources and tools.

Ensure that youth and young adults exiting foster care can obtain their vital documents before transitioning from foster care.

Addressed developmentally appropriate services for youth in foster care and identified best practices for Federal support of States and territories in implementing provisions of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (P.L. 113-183).

Brandon is a 21-year-old alumnus of the foster care system. He was in the foster care system for about 10 years and serves as a foster care advocate, working in State government for the last 3 years. He feels that normal activities for all youth in foster care should include getting a driver’s license, going on out-of-State and overnight trips, and participating in sports.

Desiree is an alumna of the foster care system. She lived with the same foster care family for 14 years. She entered foster care with three of her siblings, and wants to use her experiences growing up in foster care to make a difference for those still in the system.

Watch as Amnoni relates her experience in the foster car system, including her struggles and quest for stability and normalcy.

Hear Raven's foster care story, the challenges of being separated from her brother, and the value of support.

Learn how Daryle reconnected with this Tribe after being separated from his cultural background in foster care.

Hear how Cortez, and adoptee, overcame his struggles to build an identity in a changing environment.

Explore the four thematic pillars necessary for organizational capacity that supports engagement with young people currently and formerly in foster care.

Explains the importance of sustained involvement of young people currently and formerly in foster care in meaningful organizational activity. 

Get practical guidance for building organizational capacity and for implementing flexible and innovate programs for youth engagement.

Learn about adolescent brain development, trauma-responsive care, and the importance of normalcy.