Frankie is 14 years old and lives with his sister, brothers, and moms. He and his sister were adopted when they were 2 years old and 4 years old, respectively. He loves spending time with his aunts, uncles, and cousins and loves being part of a big family.

Explore strategies to engage individuals with lived experience as advisors for groups, committees, boards, and more. 

Learn strategies for accurately and safely collecting data on LGBTQIA2S+ youth and young adults.

Learn how to engage young people and families with lived expertise in the CFSR process at a child welfare agency. 

Shares Stephen’s story about being a community-based provider and policymaker in Florida, the need for laws that empower caregiver decision-making, creating Florida’s reasonable and prudent parent standard (RPPS), and the effect RPPS and normalcy laws can have on foster care.

Discover services and resources aimed at the needs of expecting and parenting teens in child welfare. 

Learn about the challenges of engaging difficult-to-reach populations of youth and young adults. 

Bruce and Brenda have been married for 33 years and have four daughters. From 2006 to 2009, they provided a kinship placement for their four grandchildren. In 2010, the couple adopted Bruce (now 18 years old), Tre’Nae (now 15 years old), Mason (now 13 years old), and Kiaunna (now 10 years old).

Learn actionable ways to engage in authentic, nonexploitative storytelling practices with people with lived experience and expertise. 

Learn how child welfare organizations can create equity in the workforce. 

Explore ways to increase commitment to partnering with people with lived expertise in child welfare.

Discover strategies to effectively integrate people with lived expertise into the child welfare workforce.

Learn how people with lived expertise have used their experiences to advocate for changes in approach, practice, and policy in child welfare. 

Learn about key considerations to sustain research and evaluation partnerships with people with lived expertise and minimize harm. 

Discover strategies for partnering with noncustodial fathers and paternal family members in child welfare.