Foster Advocates

FOSTER ADVOCATES IS NOT JUST OUR NAME ITS WHAT WE DO. WE FOSTER ADVOCACY, POLICY CHANGE, AND ORGANIZING BY PARTNERING WITH FOSTERS AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. WE ENVISION A MINNESOTA WHERE EVERY PERSON INVOLVED IN MINNESOTA'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM HAS THE SAME ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES AS THEIR NON-FOSTER PEERS. WE ENVISION A MINNESOTA WHERE FOSTER VOICES ARE RESPECTED AND OUR COMMUNITY EXPERTISE IS SOUGHT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

RELATIONSHIPS: THOSE CLOSEST TO A PROBLEM ARE CLOSEST TO SOLVING THEM, AND FOSTERS GROUND OUR WORK AS THEY DIRECT PROGRAM, RESEARCH, AND POLICY PRIORITIES. WE INVEST IN FOSTERS THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. CURRENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (ELP): MENTORING FOR HIGH-SCHOOL AGE FOSTERS TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATION JOURNEY THROUGH GRADUATION TO A COLLEGE/CAREER PATH COLLEGE AMBASSADORS: LEADERSHIP AND PEER-SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE-GOING FOSTERS TO SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH DEGREE COMPLETION FELLOWSHIP: 5-MONTH COHORT PROGRAM FOR FOSTERS ACROSS MN TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS OTHER LEADERSHIP: RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR FOSTERS TO ENGAGE WITH, FROM ONE-TIME SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES, TO AN ANNUAL TOPICAL HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN PROGRAM COMMUNITY BOARD: A GROUP OF FOSTER LEADERS WHO OVERSEE OUR WORK, APPROVING OUR ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND PRIORITY ISSUES. COMMUNITY BOARD CO-CHAIRS SERVE ON OUR GOVERNING BOARD. THE THREE PROGRAMS, ELP, COLLEGE AMBASSADORS, AND COMMUNITY BOARD, WERE ALL LAUNCHED IN 2021. WE HOSTED OUR 2ND SUCCESSFUL TOPICAL DESIGN PROGRAM IN 2021 (1ST WHICH WRAPPED IN SPRING ON COLLEGE BARRIERS FOR FOSTERS, 2ND STARTED IN FALL 2021 FOCUSED ON LGBTQ2S+ FOSTERS).

REFORM: THROUGH HAVING A LASER FOCUS ON FOSTERS, WE HAVE PASSED SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION THAT SITS AT THE INTERSECTION OF FOSTER CARE AND EDUCATION EQUITY: KEEPING FOSTERS IN SCHOOL ACT TO REDUCE K-12 EDUCATION DISRUPTION; AND FOSTERING HIGHER EDUCATION ACT TO CREATE FREE COLLEGE PATHWAYS FOR MINNESOTA FOSTERS.

RESEARCH: OUTCOMES AND NEEDS FOR FOSTERS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY ASSESSED. THROUGH HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN, RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS, AND DATA OVERSIGHT, WE ENSURE WE HAVE NEEDED DATA TO MOVE SYSTEMS. WE CONDUCTED THE FIRST STATE-SPECIFIC REPORT ON THE COVID-19 IMPACT ON FOSTERS IN 2020, LEADING TO HENNEPIN DIRECTING $200,000 IN CARES ACT FUNDING TO OUR COALITION TO DISTRIBUTE AS DIRECT-CASH TRANSFERS TO TRANSITION-AGE FOSTERS. OUR ADVOCACY BROUGHT MINNESOTA IN COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING ON K-12 EDUCATION OUTCOMES FOR FOSTERS.