Roundtable Overview and Materials

The Child Welfare Policy Roundtable highlights the major child welfare and foster care issues facing California, visions for systemic reform, and policy opportunities to improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable children and youth. This monthly meeting features a panel of policymakers, practitioners, advocates and former foster youth and provides an informal opportunity to learn and ask questions about California’s child welfare system. Legislative staff, advocates, stakeholders, and the public are invited to join the conversation. For meeting information or if you are having problems accessing any of the below materials, please contact Sara Fung at [email protected].

March 2024: Child Welfare Legislation

Alliance for Children’s Rights, allianceforchildrensrights.org
Kristin Power, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, [email protected]

California Alliance of Child and Family Services, cacfs.org
Adrienne Shilton, Vice President, Public Policy and Strategy, [email protected]

Catbird Strategies, catbirdstrategies.com
Cathy Senderling-McDonald, CEO, [email protected]

Children’s Law Center of California, clccal.org
Julie McCormick, Senior Policy Attorney, [email protected]

County Welfare Directors Association of California, cwda.org
Amanda Kirchner, Director of Legislative Advocacy, [email protected]

John Burton Advocates for Youth, jbay.org
Jessica Petrass, Associate Director of Education, [email protected]

Lewis Advocacy, lewisadvocacy.com
Kim Lewis, Partner, [email protected]

 

 

Past Meeting Materials

California’s 2024-25 Budget Proposal
Angela Short, Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst, [email protected]
Legislative Analyst’s Office, lao.ca.gov

The Family Urgent Response System (FURS)
Amanda Miller McKinney, Senior Associate, Child Welfare Policy, [email protected]
Children Now, childrennow.org

 The Housing Navigation & Maintenance Program (HNMP) and the Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) Housing Supplement
Simone Tureck Lee, Director of Housing and Health, [email protected]
John Burton Advocates for Youth, jbay.org

 Public Health Nurse Los Angeles County Pilot Program
Craig A. Vincent-Jones, MHA, Deputy Director, Children’s Medical Services, [email protected]
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, publichealth.lacounty.gov

 The Potential Impact of Eliminating Programs on Youth
Christopher Hernandez, Statewide Legislative Coordinator, [email protected]
California Youth Connection, calyouthconn.org

The Role Research Plays in Deepening Understanding of Transition Age Youth Services and Supports
Andrea Lane Eastman, PhD, Co-Director, Transition-Age Youth Research & Evaluation Hub, [email protected]
California Child Welfare Indicators Project, ccwip.berkeley.edu/TAY

Effective Transitional Housing Programs for Young Adults Exiting Foster Care
Colleen Pagter, Director of Public Policy, [email protected]
First Place for Youth, firstplaceforyouth.org

Empowering Transition Age Youth through Mentorship
Kecia Sakazaki, Co-Founder and Program Director, [email protected]
AgingUP, agingup.org

Recommendations to Reform California’s Independent Living Program
Danielle Wondra, Senior Policy and Outreach Associate, [email protected]
Children Now, childrennow.org

An Overview of the Youth Development Services Division and Independent Living Program
Robbie Odom, Division Chief, Youth Development Services Division, [email protected]
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, dcfs.lacounty.gov

The Impacts of Authentic Youth Engagement
Amber Twitchell, Director, [email protected]
VOICES Youth Services, voicesyouthcenter.org

2023 Meeting Materials

2022 Meeting Materials

2021 Meeting Materials

2020 Meeting Materials

2019 Meeting Materials

About Children Now

Children Now is a nonpartisan, multi-issue research, policy development and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children’s health and education in California. The organization also leads The Children’s Movement of California, a network of more than 3,000 direct service, parent, civil rights, faith-based and community groups dedicated to improving children’s well-being. Learn more about us at www.childrennow.org.