Use this discussion guide with the CWVE 2022 videos to view a description of each topic, access individual reflection questions to facilitate personal, on-demand learning, and explore conversation starters and team activities with child welfare staff and collaborative partners.   

Highlights the advocacy work of state and regional youth leadership councils. Two paid regional and state youth specialists and the Texas Director for Transitional Living Services describe how including youth voice by providing them a “seat at the table” at the state capital enhances the child welfare system. All three discuss the rewards and personal impact of their work.

Tells the story of the relationship, initially forged over a shared meal, between a youth and her CASA worker. The CASA worker’s advocacy for concrete supports to meet the youth’s needs helped grow the trust in their relationship.

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

Explore additional 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. 

Explore additional resources to learn about the challenges of engaging difficult-to-reach populations of youth and young adults.

Examine new software and technology innovations, which provide better, more integrated services and cut costs for states and jurisdictions.

Provides an overview of resources and strategies to enhance approaches for providing financial capability training for youth who are transitioning out of foster care. 

Identify data sources to explore your state’s system of foster and adoptive parent licensing, recruitment, and retention.

Examine a five-step framework that helps organizations promote youth engagement in normalcy conversations about the youth’s own care.

Learn to facilitate a normalcy conversation and to promote normal and developmentally appropriate experiences for youth in foster care.

Explore the various aspects of the importance of normalcy for children and youth in care.

Learn how to create an agency organizational culture that is inclusive and knowledgeable about the unique needs of LGBTQ children, youth, and families.

Learn about the challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) families involved with the child welfare system and ways to help them.