Foster Care & Extended Foster Care
December 2024: Chafee Foster Care Independence Program 25th Anniversary Celebration
Bottom Left: Youth Law Center’s Jennifer Rodriguez with Representative Judy Chu (D-CA, 28th District)
Right: Group photo at the Journey to Success Chafee Foster Care Independence Program 25th Anniversary Celebration; from left to right: Lisa Dickson, Shaquita Ogletree, Dr. Alfred Perez, Eshawn Peterson, April Curtis, Shalita O’Neale, Jamole Callahan, Ruthie White, Terry Harrak, Jennifer Rodriguez
Youth Law Center joined over 35 changemakers and lived experts from 13 national organizations in Washington, D.C. for a special event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and honoring the legacy of the youth leaders who have led the movement over the past decades to improve the transition to adulthood of youth for themselves and their peers. Members of Congress, staff, advocates and others celebrated the young people who have translated their own experiences in foster care into significant policy change throughout the states and federally, not for fame or personal agenda, but to transform the lives of future generations. Youth Law Center staff were proud to be presenters, and to support with preparing and amplifying the voices of young people who have experienced foster care and those who’ve transitioned to adulthood. We also left inspired and motivated to continue working to build the youth movement and fight for the changes still needed to ensure young people exiting foster care have all the supports they need.
“When I went in 1999 and testified, and the Chafee bill got stuck in the Senate Finance Committee, the Senators in their beautiful mahogany room asked me, ‘Terry what’s more important for youth- is it health care, is it housing, is it education?’ So I pointed at the pictures of them with their kids having happy moments, and said, ‘We want what they have. And there’s no reason not to give that to us.’ Now, looking back on Chafee, 25 years ago, I realize now, what I didn’t know how to advocate for then- love and relationships. I knew how to say I needed housing and health care, but I didn’t know how to ask for love. I got lucky that the advocates in my life loved me, and they changed the trajectory of my life. Now I want that for every young person. “ – Terry Harrak, Manager, Youth Law Center Quality Parenting Initiative
“Together we have worked to develop and advance a vision co-created by youth of the future we deserve- filled with joy, love, community, opportunity- the supports needed to be resilient however dramatically the world changes. We are celebrating youth power and leadership, new allies and champions, new funding and resources for youth, new policy reforms, and new hope for a vision that truly positions youth to thrive by 2035.” – Jennifer Rodriguez, Executive Director, Youth Law Center
“Now, looking back on Chafee, 25 years ago, I realize now, what I didn’t know how to advocate for then- love and relationships. I knew how to say I needed housing and health care, but I didn’t know how to ask for love. I got lucky that the advocates in my life loved me, and they changed the trajectory of my life. Now I want that for every young person. “
– Terry Harrak, Youth Law Center Quality Parenting Initiative