To ensure successful educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care across the country, 12 organizations have joined together as the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education. The working group partners are:
- American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
- American Public Human Services Association/National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators
- Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
- Casey Family Programs
- Children's Defense Fund
- Child Welfare League of America
- Education Law Center (Pennsylvania)
- Juvenile Law Center
- National CASA Association
- National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues
- National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
- National Foster Care Coalition
- National Foster Parent Association
- Stuart Foundation
Strategy
Collaboration is the key to achieving practice, policy, and cultural changes that support educational stability and achievement for children and youth in care and for those responsible for their well-being.
The working group heightens national awareness of the educational needs of children and youth in care, and promotes best and promising practices and reforms across educational, child welfare, and juvenile and family court systems.
Long term goals
- Educational stability for children and youth in foster care
- Seamless educational transitions for children and youth when education changes do occur
- High quality educational experiences, expectations and aspirations for young people in foster care
- Greater national attention to the disparate educational outcomes for young people in foster care, particularly children and youth of color
- Advance knowledge of emerging state policies and strategies designed to improve educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care.
- Promote best and promising practices and cross-system collaboration.
- Heighten visibility of the education issues for children and youth in foster care in publications, on the web, at key national conferences, and through trainings and technical assistance.
- Disseminate members' tools and resources in the field.
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