Chapin Hall

Convening Uncovers Strategies to Help Meet Needs of Older Transition-Age Youth

What do transition-age youth need to succeed? Chapin Hall and Selfless Love Foundation explored policy and practice innovations to deepen permanent connections for foster youth.

What We Did

In October 2023, child welfare leaders, researchers, caseworkers, advocates and foster care alumni convened for a 2-day Think Tank event in the Colorado Rockies. The goal was to bring together leaders in child welfare practice, policy, and innovation to focus on relational needs of older youth. The event elevated the voices of lived experts to identify promising practices and barriers. In all, 28 states were represented; each participating jurisdiction sent a lived expert and a staff member. The gathering was the brainchild of Selfless Love Foundation, which hosted the event, and a coalition of advocates and foster care alumni who have first-hand experience with the “wicked problems” of youth aging out of care. Chapin Hall assisted with a year-long intentional planning process, informing the dialogue with relevant policy analysis on permanency and elevating trauma-informed practices to foster meaningful youth engagement at the event.

What We Found

Chapin Hall’s summary report documents the proceedings, highlighting the themes that emerged as participants described the importance of permanent connections and what systems can do to foster healing relationships for emerging adults in care. The report also summarizes the key values that guided the planning process, and how those values were demonstrated in inclusive, youth-centered, trauma-informed practices throughout the Think Tank.

What It Means

The findings from the report are being used in multiple states to develop advocacy priorities and consider new policy strategies to serve transition-age youth. The strategies used in planning the Think Tank could inform future youth-focused convenings, as systems look to engage lived experts in system improvement efforts.

Read the report