Coming Together: California Youth Connection and Foster Youth in Action
On June 14, after nearly a year of exploratory conversations with our members, network, staff and Board, CYC and FYA announced plans to merge, knowing that our impact can only be greater if working together.
For more than 10 years, California Youth Connection and Foster Youth in Action have shared a deep commitment and passion for improving the foster care system. We operate our organizations through an authentic youth-led and youth-driven perspective, and we share the same core values in our day-to-day operations and decision making. Be sure to take a look at the press releases from The Imprint Youth & Family News and Businesswire.
Vision & Mission
Our vision is that all foster youth will be equal partners in contributing to all policies and decisions made in their lives. All youth in foster care will have their needs met and the support to grow into healthy and vibrant adults.
The mission of California Youth Connection (CYC), a youth-led organization, is to develop leaders who empower each other and their communities to transform the foster care system through legislative, policy, and practice change. Learn more about our community!
#FUNDS4youth campaign
June 2021 Update
Our Day of Action on April 5th was a success! State child welfare agencies around the country are partnering with Think of Us to make sure current and former foster youth ages 14-26 in California get access to a stimulus check! To sign up and see if you qualify, head over to Check For Us website and complete the sign up process by clicking here!
Ways to get involved in our community
Do you have lived experience in the foster care or juvenile justice systems and are between the ages of 14-24? You can become a CYC member by submitting a membership inquiry. Click here to learn more information about CYC membership and chapters.
Are you 25 years old + and want to work alongside youth in systems change work? California Youth Connection is a unique youth-adult partnership that mobilizes system-impacted young people and adult supporters in community advocacy around issues in youth-serving systems. Click here to learn more about how you can support your local CYC members.
Are you an agency or organization that serves young people impacted by youth-serving systems? Click here to learn about how you can provide child welfare professionals with quality youth-centered trainings around youth development and socioeomotional growth.
California Youth Connection provides youth members a platform to engage with decision makers in statewide policy and legislative change. Click here to learn more about this year’s policy and legislative agenda.