Volume L | March 19, 2025 | | The Good Stuff in Child Welfare | | |
Welcome to The Good Stuff in Child Welfare!
At the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, & Research, we acknowledge the often heart-wrenching and distressing narratives that dominate the child welfare landscape, leaving us deeply moved and impassioned. However, amidst these challenging stories, there exists a wealth of inspiring achievements and uplifting initiatives occurring nationwide at every level of practice. To highlight and celebrate these positive developments, we are delighted to present this monthly newsletter, dedicated exclusively to showcasing “The Good Stuff” within the expansive field of child welfare.
If there's something you'd like to see here, shoot us an email. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff in Child Welfare? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do.
| | Arizona DCS Helping Foster Care Youth Hit the Road to Independence | |
Arizona’s Department of Child Safety is supporting older teens in foster care through its Youth Driver Education Program. This free initiative is focused on providing youth with the comprehensive knowledge and skills they need to obtain their driver’s license. Due to traditional driving lessons carrying a high-cost burden, this program is focused on removing financial barriers that older youth frequently encounter when transitioning to independence. The course includes training required by the Arizona Department of Transportation, behind-the-wheel lessons, and permit test preparation. Since its launch in 2022, about 200 youth have successfully completed the program.
Link to Full Article
| | Parents for Parents Program Offers Hope, Assistance to Spokane Families in Child Welfare System | |
Forge, a local nonprofit in Spokane, WA, just launched Parents for Parents, a peer-mentoring program designed to support parents involved in the child welfare system. Program Coordinator Gabrial Cisneros-Lassesy, drawing from lived experience, now helps guide parents through the reunification process and toward permanency with their children. A key component of the program is an introductory class titled Hope, which provides essential knowledge on navigating the complexities of the system. Parents for Parents also serves as a vital connector to additional resources, offering wraparound support for participants. As the program continues to grow, Forge is seeking more community partners to expand its reach and impact.
Link to Full Article
| | LA County Board Grants $506,000 to Keep Foster Siblings Together | |
Last month, Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors Chair, Kathryn Barger, presented a $506,488 check to Together California. The visionary child welfare organization works to keep siblings together to break the cycle of trauma caused by separation when they enter foster care. The funding, allocated through the County’s Department of Health Services’ Housing for Health program, will support the construction of a new residential village in Palmdale. This development will include 12 homes and a community center, providing nurturing and supportive environments where siblings can maintain their bonds under the care of full-time foster parents.
Link to Full Article
| | LandCare Revitalizes Child Welfare Organization in Florida | | |
LandCare’s Fort Lauderdale branch manager, Juan Carlos Gutierrez, made a generous contribution to Children’s Harbor, a child welfare organization that provides safe shelter and support to older youth in foster care. Donating thousands of dollars in plant materials, Gutierrez and his landscaping team transformed the eight-acre property. They revitalized the front entrance to create a more welcoming atmosphere and lined up plants outside every group home, bringing new life to the space. This act of kindness exemplifies the power of community and the impact of giving back. Thanks to Gutierrez and his team, Children’s Harbor team has a renewed sense of pride.
Link to Full Article
| | ‘First Place For Youth’ Program to Provide Housing, Employment for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care | |
A Mississippi-based organization called First Place For Youth recently began working with older youth transitioning out of foster care to ensure they have the resources necessary to thrive. With operations across seven states, statistics from the first year of the program indicate positive outcomes, including 97% of enrolled youth having found housing. Apartments are located in safe neighborhoods that are near universities and businesses so youth have opportunities for education and employment. With the goal of continuing to expand the program, Chief Executive Officer Thomas Lee is determined to address barriers encountered by transition-age youth through targeted initiatives and legislative advocacy.
Link to Full Article
| | Tennessee Program Helps Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care Find Success | | |
Youth Villages’ LifeSet program helps young adults in Nashville, TN transition from foster care to independent living through mentorship, life skills, and emotional support. The impact is clear: after one year, 91% of participants are in school, graduated, or employed. For Isaiah McColey, LifeSet was a lifeline after years in juvenile facilities. “I never thought I’d turn things around,” he said. Now, he’s excelling in school, studying to become a project manager—pursuing a future he once thought was out of reach. Now, LifeSet has launched a fundraising campaign where supporters can help change lives and create brighter futures for young people overcoming challenges.
Link to Full Article
| | Hillsdale County Youth Group Launches Effort to Provide Hope to Kids Entering Foster Care | |
Michigan’s Hillsdale County Community Foundation's Youth Advisory Council (YOUTH) recently prepared 14 diaper bags and 36 backpacks to support children entering foster care. The bags aim to ease the transition for these children, offering a sense of dignity and hope. Filled with essentials like clothing, books, and stuffed animals, the bags will be distributed by child welfare specialists at Hillsdale County DHHS. With around 100 children in foster care daily in the county, YOUTH aims to bring comfort during a difficult transition.
Link to Full Article
| | The Field Center team would like to thank the staff and students who brought this newsletter together. Specifically, we recognize our Fall 2025 students Hannah Bennett, Liya Cha, Kate Greco, and Sabrina Vargas for their contributions in providing readers with this uplifting content. Many thanks to our Associate Director Sarah Wasch for editing and our Administrative Coordinator Felicia Saunders for handling design and distribution. Special thanks to our Managing Faculty Director, Dr. Johanna Greeson for her idea to curate the “good news stories” happening in child welfare! | | | | |
