Statement on Designated Placements Final Rule
This week, the Children’s Bureau issued a memo informing state and tribal title IV-B/IV-E agencies that the Designated Placements Final Rule is vacated in its entirety. The National Foster Youth Institute is deeply concerned that there is no longer a federal commitment to a policy intended to help ensure that LGBTQ+ children in foster care are […]
NFYI Supports Bill to Increase Resources for Aging Out Youth
This week, the Rep. Zach Nunn-led bipartisan effort to advance the Fostering the Future for American Children and Families Act marks a pivotal moment for young people transitioning out of foster care. This legislation—introduced by Congressman Nunn (IA-03) and co-sponsored by Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01) —seeks to codify and expand the recent federal initiative aimed […]
Statement on Fostering the Future Executive Order
For tens-of-thousands of young people aging out of foster care each year, the transition to adulthood can be overwhelming. Finding stable housing, navigating college or career options, and trying to access the right resources (all without the safety net many of their peers have) creates significant challenges. Statistics say that one in five will experience […]
The Long-Term Damage of Family Separation
NFYI board chair, Wendy B. Smith Meyer, Ph.D., LCSW, a retired clinical professor of social work and associate dean of curriculum development and assessment at the University of Southern California, had the following published in Psychology Today: “A sudden and prolonged separation has an incalculable impact on a child. Events that exceed our ability to […]
Report: California Mental Health Listening Sessions
In the spring and summer of 2025, the National Foster Youth Institute held a series of listening sessions about mental health care with current and former foster youth from across California. Their opinions, experiences, and suggestions were captured in this report, which identifies recommendations for holistic mental health support for foster youth and young adults […]