Three amazing Lived Experience (LEx) Leaders from FosterClub took center stage at theAmerican Public Human Services Association’s national convening titled “Breaking the Link: Disrupting the Connection Between Poverty and Child Welfare” on April 9th and 10th, 2024. 

Sharing their stories and insights were Brina Williams (age 23, 1.5 years in Michigan’s foster care system), Jamarri Kane-White (age 23, 10 years in D.C.’s foster care system), and Shimaine Holley (age 26, 12 years in Texas and Georgia’s foster care systems). The LEx Leaders teamed up with kinship caregivers and parents, who got a helping hand from Generations United and the National Parent Leadership Institute. Together, these inspiring individuals brought real world experiences to the table,  shedding light on the challenges of those impacted by foster care.

Our goal was to bring LEx leaders to the table with state and local human services agency leaders, national organizations, and policymakers to tackle poverty's role in child welfare. Across several sessions, they examined policy barriers and designed a future vision to break the cycle of poverty leading to foster care involvement.

Jamarri Kane-White summed it up perfectly:

“Poverty has been a recurring theme throughout [foster care]... [My first social worker] never really asked my mom what she needed help with."

— Jamarri, 23, D.C.

These words show why it's crucial to tackle the connection between poverty and ending up in foster care. We've got to make sure families get the help they need to thrive.  And we’ve got to make sure that help is available outside of child welfare, when safely possible.

The Takeaway

By amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by foster care and poverty, the child welfare system can do more to pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future. Let's keep the momentum going and continue our  work toward a world where every young person has the opportunity to flourish, regardless of their circumstances.