Foster Youth to Present Solutions for Child Welfare Reform at November 1 Forum
WHAT: Young people with lived experience in the foster care system will present research-based projects on critical child welfare issues at Boston CASA's first in-person Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Forum on November 1. Four youth will deliver 10-minute presentations featuring original research, personal insights, statistics, and actionable recommendations on topics ranging from improving residential programs to communication gaps between foster youth and DCF caseworkers.
Youth presentation topics include:
"Out of Reach: The Disconnect Between Youth and DCF"
"More Than a Placement: Understanding the Whole Child in Foster Care"
"Substance Use and Its Interference with Teens Diagnosed with Diabetes"
"Fostering a Better Environment for Youth in Residential Programs"
Massachusetts' 8,200 foster youth face daunting odds: 58% graduate high school, just 3–4% earn a college degree, nearly half experience homelessness by age 26, 70% are arrested at least once, and 7 out of 10 foster girls are pregnant by age 21. At this forum, young people with lived experience in the system will present evidence-based solutions to change these outcomes. This is a rare opportunity for media to hear directly from foster youth about the reforms they believe are essential.
The forum will also include a youth panel discussion and showcase community partnerships that support transitional-age foster youth.
WHEN: Saturday, November 1, 2025
10:00-10:30am - Opening Remarks from Boston CASA Executive Director and Transitional Age Youth Coordinator
10:30-11:30am - Project Presentations
11:30-11:45am - Break (Good time to interview Nicole, Jaylene and former foster youth)
11:45-12:45pm - Youth Advisory Board Panel
12:45-1:00pm - Closing and Transition to End of Year Celebration
WHERE:
Cambridge Public Library
Lecture Hall (Elevator, Go to Basement Level)
449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138
WHO: Boston CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children in foster care across Suffolk and Middlesex Counties. CASAs are appointed by judges to ensure every child's voice is heard and their needs are met in the child welfare system.
Boston CASA's Youth Advisory Board is a program for young people with lived experience in the foster care system. Through the program, which runs February through November, participants develop critical advocacy skills including public speaking, leadership, and community engagement while working toward meaningful reform in the child welfare system.
Nicole Stewart, Executive Director, Boston CASA
Jaylene Tiscareno, Transitional Age Youth Coordinator, Boston CASA
El'Asia Williams, Youth Advisory Board member and foster youth presenting "More Than a Placement: Understanding the Whole Child in Foster Care"
Erin Margolius, Court Appointed Special Advocate (El'Asia's CASA)
PUBLIC EVENT: This forum is free and open to the public. Even if you're unable to cover the event in person, we hope you'll share this opportunity with your readers/viewers/listeners. Community members, educators, social workers, and anyone interested in child welfare reform are welcome to attend.
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About Boston CASA: Boston CASA recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, most of whom end up in foster care. Unlike mentors, CASAs are sworn in by a judge and granted legal authority to submit independent reports to the court, offering a direct line of influence in the decisions that shape a child’s future. Research shows that just one consistent adult can change a child's trajectory. Learn more at www.bostoncasa.org.