Permanency may mean guardianship or adoption for younger foster youth; for older youth the system strives to provide a lifelong connection to a caring, older adult. Regardless of how we define permanency, we know it to be a critical factor to the success of our foster youth. Learn more about current efforts to support Permanency for all youth in Alameda County.
May 15, 2013 - When AB 12, California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act, became law in January 2012, it opened a door to the possibility of safety and stability for older homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness by providing for the expansion of federally funded, mandated supports and services to foster youth ages 18-21. We launched the Alameda County AB 12 Homeless Youth Demonstration Project to coincide with the implementation of this extraordinary new law.
September 06, 2012 - Lots of great research and practice recommendations were released over the summer, including two new reports from NYC: Guide to Working with Young Parents in Out of Home Care, and Meeting the Educational Needs of Students in the Child Welfare System: Lessons from the Field, and two new memoranda from ACYF on Promoting the Safe, Appropriate, and Effective Use of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care and Promoting Social and Emotional Well-Being...Read more »
May 31, 2012 - The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections at Hunter College in NYC has publicized a ton of new research in the past couple weeks: They've recently updated their report on Sibling Placement: The Importance of the Sibling Relationship for Children in Foster Care which includes research, facts and statistics, best practices, and emerging issues. The American Bar Association has developed a new brief on how the IDEA and Fostering Connections Acts...Read more »
March 07, 2012 - The Lasting Links Mentorship Program aims to address the unmet and special needs of both child victims of commercial sexual exploitation and children at risk of exploitation by offering group and individual mentorships that will help mentees to form healthy relationships with adult role models. MISSSEY's First Info Session for their New Mentorship Program will be held on March 21st from 5-7pm. RSVP to the Lasting Links Mentorship Information Session set for March...Read more »
November 21, 2011 - It was National Adoption Day on Saturday the most prominent event during National Adoption Month. Here in Alameda County, the Social Services Agency and Superior Courts held an event for adoptive families and their supporters in San Leandro on Friday. Down in LA, over 100 adoptions were finalized and celebrated on the courthouse steps. In Tulare County, 18 adoptions of foster children were finalized as part of the...Read more »
November 16, 2011 - A new report examines the implications of a recent finding that " Every year, almost 200,000 children from birth to 3 years old come into contact with the child welfare system; more than a third of them are placed in foster care, representing the largest age group entering care." Taking a developmental perspective when examining various aspects of the functioning of the child welfare and foster care systems, the authors find that "Although this time of life is one...Read more »
October 18, 2011 - In this archived webcast, Parenting Older Adolescents, Dr. Gerald Mallon of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, spoke with Mary Keane, a foster and adoptive parent in New York State, as well as Aileen Rosario, one of Mary’s daughters. Mary shared her experiences as a lesbian resource parent, focusing on how she has engaged older adolescents and how she has met the needs of LGBT youth in...Read more »
October 12, 2011 - This week, KQED broadcast two stories from NPR on issues related to foster care. In the first, from the Perspectives series, Sarah Marxer speaks from her experience of adopting a child from foster care, noting the prevalence of mental health conditions and other aftereffects of trauma among foster and adopted children. A second piece, broadcast on Tuesday morning, featured Gary Stangler of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, who discussed their...Read more »
September 19, 2011 - FYA is delighted to welcome our newest member agency AASK! AASK, also known as Adopt A Special Kid, identifies and trains competent, caring, foster care and adoptive parents in order to establish stable homes for foster kids. AASK was founded by nationally celebrated parents Dorothy and Robert DeBolt who adopted 14 special needs children and were the subject of the Academy award-winning documentary "Who Are the DeBolts and Where...Read more »
September 06, 2011 - Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer has released a Resource Guide of Programs and Services for Hayward Youth and Families along with a Quick Reference Guide. Both of these resources are designed for use by youth, families, and providers.Read more »
Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance (FYA) | 675 Hegenberger Rd., Oakland, CA, 94621 | 510-387-7518 | info@fosteryouthalliance.org
