Q&A
Addressing information access challenges for foster youth
0:55:48
ยท
115 sec
Council Member Stevens raises concerns about foster youth's frustrations with accessing information about available resources and programs. The discussion focuses on improving information dissemination and the potential for developing a technology-based solution.
- Foster youth reported difficulties in accessing information about resources, with some feeling disadvantaged based on their provider.
- Council Member Stevens suggests creating an app to help youth easily access information about available programs and resources.
- Commissioner Dannhauser acknowledges the need to improve information access and agrees to explore multiple ways of reaching youth, including the app suggestion.
Althea Stevens
0:55:48
I just add on to that?
0:55:49
Because at my foster care roundtable, the young people in the room were very frustrated because they often feel like they share a lot of the information amongst themselves, especially for college, being able to get a laptop, and things like that where they don't have access.
0:56:05
And they're in in the conversation, a lot of them felt like if you were with specific providers, they were able to access stuff, whereas, like, some people didn't.
0:56:13
Have you guys thought about doing some type of, like, information stuff for the young people who are in care so that they can do their own research.
0:56:21
I mean, they shouldn't have to.
0:56:22
But for them, they were very frustrated.
0:56:24
And they were like, could we get some type of, like, app or something where we could have and be able to see all the things that are available to them, because that was one of their requests and frustrations.
Jess Dannhauser
0:56:38
Yeah.
0:56:38
We absolutely can can look at that.
0:56:41
We've been, doing most of that through making sure that it's been great partnership with the Center for Fair Futures that they know everything because they are training directly the coaches in addition to the leadership of that that program.
0:56:55
But there are some young people who have not engaged there and shouldn't have to engage.
0:56:58
There should be multiple ways.
0:56:59
And so we'll look at we we do lots of through the youth leadership council.
0:57:04
But if it's not happening for every single child, we gotta find other ways.
Althea Stevens
0:57:07
They suggested a app, and I thought that was a great idea of, like, I mean, you know, we use technology, and that's what we say anyway.
0:57:13
They were like, could we just get an app, we could just be able to go beep, beep, boop Yep.
0:57:17
And and figure it out ourselves.
0:57:18
Because, I mean, in that moment, what was beautiful was that the young people started to share information with each other and were literally becoming their own case managers.
0:57:28
And it was a really good thing.
0:57:29
But they were like just how easy it is to even connect with other people who've aged out and things like that.
0:57:34
So that was one of their suggestions that I'll bring up here.
0:57:36
I'm sorry.
0:57:37
I jumped into your time, council member Williams.
0:57:39
Go ahead.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:57:40
It's okay.
0:57:40
You're the chair.
Gale A. Brewer
0:57:41
You have
Nantasha M. Williams
0:57:42
rights and privileges.