NFYI Supports Lawsuit to Force State and County to Fulfill Obligation to Foster Youth—Calls for Parties to Meet Immediately
NFYI Supports Lawsuit to Force State and County to Fulfill Obligation to Foster Youth—Calls for Parties to Meet Immediately Statement by Rebecca Louve Yao, Executive Director, National Foster Youth Institute WASHINGTON, D.C. — The class action lawsuit filed by public-interest law firms Public Counsel, the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Children’s Rights, and Munger, Tolles & […]
National Foster Youth Institute Statement on Supreme Court Indian Child Welfare Act Ruling
National Foster Youth Institute Statement on Supreme Court Indian Child Welfare Act Ruling WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Foster Youth Institute celebrates the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and maintain tribal sovereignty to ensure that tribal youth remain connected and placed within their own communities. NFYI, an organization that […]
Apply For Congressional Leadership Academy Today
Apply For Congressional Leadership Academy Today Hello, current foster youth, and alums of foster care! We invite you to apply to be a Foster Youth Shadow Day Delegate for the 2023 Congressional Leadership Academy Program in Washington, D.C. Click here to apply. To learn more, keep reading. The Congressional Leadership Academy Program is an opportunity […]
Student Debt Relief for 3-10% of Former Foster Youth Who Graduate
National Foster Youth Institute Reminds Communities to Support Former Foster Youth in Filling Out Student Debt Relief Application With just 3-10% of former foster youth obtaining a college degree with little to no support system, student debt is one of very few options available in pursuit of higher education, family-supporting jobs. WASHINGTON, DC — With […]
NFYI Contributes to National Youth Justice Action Month
Team — I wanted to make sure you saw the proclamation I’m forwarding below that was issued by President Joe Biden for National Youth Justice Action Month. In addition to covering details about what the Administration is doing to address issues within the juvenile justice system, this year’s proclamation includes language and ideas developed by […]
2023 Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day
Since 2012, NFYI and the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth have co-hosted the annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day experience, a multi-day conference that brings current and former foster youth from around the country to Washington, DC to share their first-hand experiences in the child welfare system with Congress, and learn how federal legislation and […]
Briefing on Kinship Care
Facilitating Kinship Licensure & Foster Care Exits to Guardianship By: Angelique Day, Grace Nielson, Scout Hartley, Charles E. Lewis, Jr. Summary: Studies have shown that Kinship placement and guardianship has the lowest rate of reentry into the foster care system. However, potential Kinship caregivers are denied the opportunity to care for the children they love […]
NFYI Member Talks to USA Today About Student Loan Forgiveness
What will student loan forgiveness mean for former foster youth? NFYI member Theron Ogedengbe told USA Today that he’s grateful for relief after taking out loans when “I didn’t have any parental forces around me, or anyone to tell me what I was signing up for.” Debt relief will change the lives of some with […]
Open Letter to a Group of World Shakers
The following letter was written by one of the leaders at the 2022 Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day Experience. Theron Ogedengbe is a therapist for at-risk youth, former Shadow Day delegate, and former foster youth. To the Participants of the 2022 Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day Experience — I’m writing this open-ended letter to you. […]
Former LA Foster Youth Advocates for Change to the System
Click here to WATCH NFYI Member and 2022 Shadow Day Delegate Junely Merwin tell her story of parenting while in foster care to becoming an advocate for herself and others in Washington, DC. By Cassie Semyon, Washington, DC Spectrum News 1 LOS ANGELES — When she was just 15 years old, Junely Merwin was removed […]