The Field Center engages in interdisciplinary research, policy, advocacy, and education to promote best practices in creating and sustaining a child and family welfare and support system that is responsive to the needs of diverse families and communities.
The Dry Ground Project is a media project that aspires to be a global community of professionals caring for young adults aged out of orphanages and foster care. They have both a blog and a podcast that provides information and connections.
The mission of Know Before You Go is to empower youth to become their own advocates, armed with the knowledge and information they need to succeed in work, school and life. Know Before You Go breaks down complicated issues and helps youth tackle the barriers they face. This is a website dedicated to share information that will be helpful for…
Youth Collaboratory has prioritized working with youth in the foster care system as one of our focus areas and has talked with our members and partners who are serving these youths to compile resources that can help address the needs of mentoring programs across the country. Based on that work, Youth Collaboratory offers this toolkit of hands-on, concrete tools and…
(Book) Caring Adults R Everywhere (C.A.R.E.) is a research-informed, social justice-oriented social support intervention for older youth in foster care that utilizes the power of connection to caring adults through natural mentoring. The goal of this manual is to provide child welfare organizations with the vision and practical tools needed to facilitate and support the development of growth-fostering relationships between…
Special Treasures is a non-profit thrift store that supports foster teens and aged-out young adults. They learn work skills such as furniture repair, furniture painting, warehouse management, stocking, salesmanship and more. Youth are mentored by volunteers and workforce development staff. They also get help with resumes, work ethics, financial management, and internships and job placement.
When young people age out of foster care at age 18, they often struggle with common tasks like maintaining a job, applying to college and getting their first apartment. Wellpoint’s Youth Transitioning to Adulthood program aims to support former foster youth as they navigate life as an adult on their own.
Today, CYDC provides programs reaching over 1,200 children, youth and their families locally each year. We care for young people who are victims of physical and sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment, as well as providing resources and support to area families at risk of having their children removed from their home.