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Child Watch 2025: Shaping California’s Foster Care Future Together

Update Child Watch 2025: A Collaborative Venture for Change The upcoming Child Watch 2025 event, hosted by the Children’s Defense Fund–California on September 25, 2025, at the prominent California African American Museum, is set to foster important discussions about the foster care system in California. This gathering aims to gather youth leaders, advocates, and policy experts to examine the state of foster care and explore innovative solutions tailored to the needs of affected youth. The Impact of Lived Experience This year's Child Watch event emphasizes the voices of those who have experienced the foster care system firsthand. The Radical Imagination Fellows, comprised of former foster youth, will share insights drawn from their personal journeys and the rigorous policy research they have undertaken over the past six months. Their work has been instrumental in highlighting the critical issues facing young people in foster care, such as instability in housing, inadequate mental health support, and barriers to education. “By placing the narrative in their hands, we empower young people to advocate for policies that reflect their real needs,” emphasized Jaren Sorkow, Director of the Children’s Defense Fund–California. Innovative Solutions in Child Welfare Alongside youth voices, the event will feature Dr. Charity Chandler-Cole, who is redefining child welfare through technology with her company CARE (Child Advocacy & Reunification Engine). Dr. Chandler-Cole’s work showcases the potential of AI in developing culturally grounded and strengths-based solutions to improve outcomes for children in foster care. Her insights will enhance the dialogue on how technological advancements can play a pivotal role in policy reform and support for underrepresented youth. Shaping Policies: A Collective Responsibility Child Watch 2025 serves not only as a platform for youth engagement but as a call to action for adults in positions of authority in child welfare and education. By inviting those who have lived through the system to share their stories, the event aims to bridge the gap between policymakers and the youth they serve. By making room for these young voices, the focus will shift toward actionable changes that prioritize their well-being and success. Addressing Systemic Challenges The event's core discussions will delve into pressing issues such as housing insecurity, inadequate access to mental health services, and educational equity—problems that disproportionately affect foster youth and must be addressed to forge a brighter future. Participants can expect a rich dialogue that examines systemic failures and proposes grassroots solutions for lasting change. Engaging the Community For families in Denver and across California, Child Watch 2025 offers a snapshot of the ways community involvement can foster significant advancements in child welfare policy. With emerging technologies in child advocacy, there’s a compelling need for collaborative efforts that engage not only experts but also the families directly affected by these policies. Embracing Change Through Participation The collective participation of youth, advocates, and policymakers at this event expands the narrative of foster care from a mere statistic to a story of resilience and hope. The Child Watch initiative symbolically serves as a lighthouse for communities, guiding them toward a future where every child—regardless of their background—has the right to thrive. By attending or engaging with initiatives like Child Watch, families can learn crucial insights about the welfare of children, the state of foster care, and how they can contribute to positive change. It’s more than an event; it’s a movement that highlights the importance of community in advocating for youth. Join us in fostering the conversation and inspiring change for our children. Collective action can indeed lead to meaningful solutions that benefit generations to come.