Welcome to an insightful and compassionate episode of the Resilient Voices & Beyond Podcast, Season Three, Episode Ten, titled "It's okay to be vulnerable and be loved and compassionate." 🎙️

In this episode, we embark on an enlightening journey with two extraordinary advocates:Meet Kayla Powell, a Lived Experience Advocate and Consultant, who embodies the inspiring quote, "Don't become what you're trying to change."And say hello to Eltuan Dawson, an Independent contractor and JTS (Journey to Success) representative, focusing on youth and young adult mental health, community development, and engagement, living by the motto, “It’s okay to be vulnerable and be loved and compassionate.”Our conversation is driven by a profound goal: to explore how Journey to Success (JTS) advocates utilize new federal and state data to push for youth-informed policy changes that enhance outcomes for older youth in care. 📊

We begin by delving into the essence of the Journey to Success campaign, a policy advocacy movement founded on the belief that young people who have experienced foster care possess the best insights into their transition to successful adulthood and should lead the charge for federal policy reform. 🌟

The heart of this episode revolves around the groundbreaking report, "Fostering Youth Transitions 2023: State and National Data to Drive Foster Care Advocacy," published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This report presents data collected from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, shedding light on the experiences of young people aged 14–21 in foster care. We uncover key findings and alarming gaps in the systems designed to support their journey to thriving adulthood. 🏛️

Our guests passionately highlight two critical policy action recommendations: the Chafee program and Extended Foster Care. We explore how lawmakers in Congress can effectuate change in these domains, bridging the gap in educational attainment, employment, and housing, especially for young people of color. 💼

Discover the Community Conversation Guide, a powerful tool enabling advocates to facilitate data-driven community discussions using the Fostering Youth Transitions 2023 report. These conversations empower young people to voice their needs and visions for a successful transition to adulthood. 🗣️

We delve into the importance of self-care in advocacy, sharing personal examples and strategies to maintain resilience. 🌱

Find out where you can access resources related to the Journey to Success campaign, including the Community Conversation Guide and the Foster Care Advocacy report. Learn how to access foster care data specific to your state. 📈

Join us for an inspiring conversation that emphasizes the power of youth-led advocacy, data-driven change, and the compassionate journey to making a positive impact on the lives of young people in foster care. 🔊🌍

You can find more information about Journey to Success and download the Community Conversation Guide for free on their website, JourneyToSuccess.org. Additionally, you can access data for your state on foster care in the free report, Fostering Youth Transitions 2023, available on the Annie E. Casey Foundation's website at www.aecf.org.

#ResilientVoicesAndBeyondPodcast #YouthAdvocacy #FosterCarePolicy #DataDrivenChange #JourneyToSuccess #KaylaPowell #EltuanDawson #MentalHealthAdvocacy #SelfCare #YouthEmpowerment #FosterCareOutcomes #ChafeeProgram #ExtendedFosterCare #CommunityConversationGuide #AnnieECaseyFoundation