Youth and young adults in foster care are more than just what they’ve experienced in child welfare. Their voices matter and should be heard. I had the opportunity to speak in front of legislators to advocate for the passing of
My experience with child welfare is short since it just recently started. I entered the world of foster care at 16, in July of 2020. My family members took me in as their foster child. I was also assigned a
I’ve been in and out of foster care my whole life – from toddler to young adult. There have been times where I used my voice and other times where I did not, but should have. I personally never realized how
When people talk about youth voice, they often miss an essential part of the story. We must take small, daily steps in the right direction and not let challenges tear us down. Youth voice is about being part of the
At the age of 16, before I even had a grasp of what advocacy meant, there was something that continued to weigh heavy on my heart. It would be the first question I asked to all who were around me;
I lived in a kinship placement between the ages of 15 and 19. Thankfully, I had a consistent and dedicated caseworker for the majority of my time in the system who directed me to any resources necessary. What surprised me
I experienced using my voice at the age of 15 when I had a choice to move back with my father, or stay with my grandfather. This was important and impactful because I had actually got to choose what I
My name is Justyce Callisto, and I'm 23. I have 10 years of experience in foster care and eight years as a lived-experience leader (youth advocate). I was around 2 years old when I entered foster care. I, of course,
Everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone wants to share it. I didn’t want to share mine until I heard my experience could help pass a bill to get an ombudsman appointed for foster youth. I was on
It was a rare occasion when I felt truly listened to and supported while I was in foster care. When I finally felt that my voice was heard, I became more hopeful that I could not only change my life
