On this week’s episode, we discuss new numbers (from the federal government and from The Imprint’s annual survey of states) that shed light on foster care trends across the nation during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. Also: a new leader nominated for Biden’s child welfare team, and the release of a ProPublica/New York Times feature on “hidden foster care.”

Aurelle Amram joins us to discuss a new approach Los Angeles is taking to gear services to people with serious mental illness around outcomes-based contracting, a plan that is expected to include a lot of focus on youth involved in foster care and/or the juvenile justice system.

Reading Room

Youth Voices Contest, Free Registration
www.YouthMatterSFY.org

Navigating the Holidays with Fostering Families Today
www.bit.ly/FFTholidays

Federal Report: Foster Care, Adoptions Dropped in 2020
https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/federal-report-foster-care-adoptions-dropped-2020/60489

National Foster Care Population Down 4% Amid Pandemic
https://imprintnews.org/subscriber-content/national-foster-care-population-down-amid-pandemic/60421

Biden Nominates Oregon Leader, and Former Foster Youth, for a Top Child Welfare Post
https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/biden-nominates-oregon-director-former-foster-youth-top-child-welfare-post/60479

“They Took Us Away From Each Other”: Lost Inside America’s Shadow Foster System
https://www.propublica.org/article/they-took-us-away-from-each-other-lost-inside-americas-shadow-foster-system

Hidden Foster Care: A Continuing Series by The Imprint
https://imprintnews.org/special-series/hidden-foster-care