Lifting up foster youth voices to help children and families thrive
Our Vision
The National Foster Youth Institute's vision is that the child welfare system is transformed into a community of support centered on child well-being and lived experiences.


Our Mission
NFYI empowers current and former foster youth, their families, and communities to use their lived experiences to bring about systemic policy changes in the child welfare system nationwide.
We bring together a diverse team of experts, including former foster youth, to drive meaningful change in child welfare. Our board and staff include leaders with lived experience, and our youth members are shaping a movement to ensure every young person impacted by foster care has the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Working collaboratively with community members and partners, we create solutions that foster connection, honor our shared future, and deepen our impact.

WHO BETTER TO ADVOCATE FOR FOSTER CARE BESIDES THE FOSTER YOUTH WHO LIVE THROUGH IT?

BRIAN MORGANTINI

On any given day, nearly 400,000 children are in foster care in the U.S.
Each year, 20,000 young people age out of foster care.
NFYI believes we can do better for America’s children. With the right policies, community support, and access to resources, young people leaving foster care can thrive. Agencies, mentors, and families can play critical roles in guiding them forward. And at NFYI, we’re building a nationwide community dedicated to ensuring no young person faces this transition alone.
Our members — current and former foster youth — are shaping a movement alongside caregivers, allies, and decision makers. These young leaders are students, attorneys, first responders, teachers, small business owners, and public servants. They come from cities, suburbs, rural towns, and reservations. What unites them is a shared experience in foster care and a commitment to creating a better future for the next generation.