project Foster Power (pFP) is a group of current and former foster youth, ages 15 to 25+, who are using their voices and experiences to improve the Colorado child welfare system through youth-led organizing and advocacy. Hearing time and time again that youth did not feel adequately prepared or supported in their transition to adulthood, pFP identified their 2020-2021 issue for action: Improving Supports for Young People Exiting Foster Care. As part of this campaign, youth came together to develop best practice recommendations for professionals across three key areas: 1) Placements that Better Meet Youth Needs, 2) Self Care and Community, and 3) Education and Employment.

The first session of the series will focus on “Placements That Better Meet Youth Needs.” pFP developed these recommendations to help ensure that placements value youth voice, better meet youth needs, and better support youth during this critical time in their development. In this training, you’ll hear directly from pFP youth about how these tips were collectively created, why they are so important, and how you might incorporate them in your day-to-day work with young people.