Youth Engagement Project (YEP)
The Youth Engagement Project (YEP) is a partnership between CFPIC and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to improve Child Welfare policies, programs and practices by building capacity for youth engagement at the state and local level.
YEP works with counties to engage current or former foster youth on local projects designed to strengthen Child Welfare systems. These youth, called YEP Ambassadors, can engage with county coordinators in a variety of ways.
Latest News!
YEP Annual Report Available Now
The Youth Engagement Project has completed their annual report which highlights the great work completed by lived experts and counties across the state. Click below to read more!
Below are some examples of the work Youth Ambassadors have done to improve the child welfare system
- January, 2025-YEP partnered with local non-profit 10,000 Degree to discuss the importance of educational opportunities for youth in care. Click here to view the recording
- April 2025-The YEP team had an opportunity to support the important work done at the Foster Youth Education Summit, which was held in Orange County. Eight youth ambassadors leaned into this leadership opportunity and met for numerous months leading up to the summit to create the Student Program. They created training content for the other 100+ youth who would be attending, and prepared other lived experts to be part of a panel who presented to the 800 attendees. The Student Program was very well received and attendees shared that it was the best student program they had witnessed.
- The YEP team traveled to Sacramento to provide support for the California Department of Social Services Independent Living Program (ILP) Convening. Teams from Sacramento County and San Joaquin shared their work around ILP as well as ways to engage youth in this important work.
- May 2025-Aliyana (Lead Ambassador) had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to represent the National Foster Youth Institute and work alongside members of Congress to advocate for foster youth and influence legislation on behalf of the state of California.
- May 2025-Youth Ambassadors, Tiffany and Diana, participated in a two-day training regarding Safety Organized Practice (SOP) through UC-Davis. They were able to learn the tenets of the SOP model, as well as how these concepts are shared with social workers and provide feedback to ensure the training is meaningful for those that will be using the tools with families.
- May 2025- YEP participated in a webinar "Supporting Transition Age Youth with a Linkages Approach", a statewide webinar featured Calla Peltier Olsen (Humboldt County Transition-Age Youth Collaboration), Erika Pollard (L.A. County ILP), and Angel Burdick (CFPIC Youth Engagement Project) sharing lived experiences and innovative strategies to support transition-age youth exiting foster care. Key strategies discussed included: Teaming: Inviting Self-Sufficiency staff to Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings can provide connections and help bridge systems as youth transition from care. No Wrong Door: Maintaining ongoing, accessible support through can help transition age youth navigate complex systems and promotes long-term stability.
- The webinar also highlighted potential benefits of CalAIM for transition age youth, including enhanced access to coordinated care and community based supports. Click here to watch the full webinar. You can view the meeting slides here, and our June 24th – Webinar - Work Plan Workshop TAY + Linkages handout here.
- June 2025-The first annual Youth Engagement Project Coaching Institute concluded in the month of June. The program was comprised of 3 youth who were matched with coaches who are adult professionals who also have lived expertise. Feedback regarding the program was extremely positive and we hope to add additional coaches for the next cohort that will begin in the fall. To apply to be a coach or coachee, please use the following links:
CFPIC YEP Ambassadors Lauren Mendez and Sophia Jeffe testify before California Senate
February 13, 2024 – Lauren Mendez and Sophia Jeffe, Youth Ambassadors from the CFPIC’s Youth Engagement Project, testified before the California Senate Human Services Committee about their experiences in the Child Welfare system and why a Kin-First Culture is so important. They showed courage and resilience as they discussed the need for improved oversight and structure within the system and greater engagement with potential relatives. Not only was the impact of their experiences and wisdom felt in the moment, but it will influence the improvement of the Child Welfare system in the years to come. Thank you, Sophia and Lauren, for leading change in California!
Click play below to view their testimony...
How YEP Provides Opportunities to Strengthen Youth Engagement
YEP Newsletter
The Impact of YEP in Counties
Through the wisdom and expertise cultivated by lived experience, our current Youth Ambassadors are working closely with their local county partners to guide and improve policies, supports, and resources for the youth involved in the foster care system. Here are some of the projects in the YEP counties:
- The creation of mental health brochures for various age groups that provide resources for youth in care.
- The review and input into county policies that directly impact youth in care.
- Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) events for youth in care in multiple counties.
- An improved website for current and former foster youth, including a communication hub.
- Monthly articles in a countywide newsletter on various youth-informed topics.
- A resource guide for youth who speak English as a second language.
- The ongoing recruitment of specialized resource homes for teens.
- Human trafficking education and outreach materials.
- Participation on a cross-sector panel on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE).
- Participation in local Interagency Leadership Team (ILT).
- Development of Independent Living Program (ILP) resources.
- Support for youth needing their REAL ID.
Future YEP Impact Projects…What’s in the works!
Youth Ambassadors and their county partners are strategizing for future county projects, such as:
- The process for youth to provide input into the Request for Proposal (RFP) selection process, specifically for services that serve youth in care.
- The creation of a foster youth advisory board.
- Training both newly hired social workers and resource parents regarding Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE).
- Focus groups to better understand barriers to participation in Independent Living Skills (ILSP) training.
- Training resource parents and newly hired social workers on the importance of sibling connections.
- Guiding Family Finding processes.
- Increasing high school graduation and college enrollment for foster youth.
To see an example of YEP in action, view the video below to learn how the County of San Luis Obispo celebrated National Foster Care Month by sharing stories from their Youth Ambassadors.
Youth Ambassador Jonathan created this touching video to highlight his journey and the impact that social workers have on the trajectory of youth. Jonathan's story was recently shared at the 2025 Independent Living Program convening to an audience of social workers and providers.
The Impact of YEP at the State level
This year, our Youth Ambassadors are providing consultation and technical assistance in statewide planning and policy development. Here are some examples of the potential state-wide impact of our Ambassadors:
- Consultation in support of the Annual Prevention Convening.
- Consultation with the CANS/CFT Steering Committee.
- Consultation with the National Youth Transition Database (NYTD) workgroup (upcoming).
- Consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) Transition Age Youth (TAY) Subcommittee (upcoming).
- Participation in Kin First Culture, including the Accelerator program.
- Development of Independent Living Program resources and guide for counties
- Participation on the California Foster Youth Education Task Force.
- Participation in the development of the Quality Parenting Initiative survey.
- Feedback regarding Foster Youth Rights brochure.
Contact YEP!
The Youth Engagement Project at CFPIC currently partners with multiple counties in California to provide funding and program support to expand youth voice in Child Welfare systems. If you are interested in more information about YEP, please contact Margo Fudge at margo.fudge@cfpic.org.
If you’d like to request a youth ambassador to participate at your meeting or event, email yep@cfpic.org.