Youth Voice

The organization Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, or CURYJ, has been transforming lives in East Oakland for over a decade.

A prevalent escape that poses a great threat to the success of many foster youth is drug use, writes Millie Tejan-gbla.

I was driving through my neighborhood recently, and saw someone hanging up Christmas lights. I said to myself, “It’s not even Halloween, yet.” It was barely October and I was already growing tired and in some ways beginning to resent the holiday season. 

Youth Voice Contributor Shay House asks: How can we throw children away, isolate them in cells and call it justice?

Youth Voice partnered with Foster Advocates, an organization in Minnesota dedicated to fostering advocacy, policy change and organizing with and for Fosters statewide. Their 2021 Fellows share their experiences in the foster care system.

Each foster youth has their own unique identity and in supportive, diverse environments, these young people have a better chance at success, writes Yvonne Singleton.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress provided a critical lifeline to youth in foster care, including a moratorium on aging out of care. These measures should be permanent, writes Alex Chivescu.

As the pandemic drags on, young people from foster care are continuing to struggle, and the federal relief provided for older youth from foster care will soon expire.

California's AB 503, known as The End Endless Probation Act, would put limits on youth probation. It was filed inactive this legislative session but will be considered next year.