To inform and support efforts to comply with the new law, the Youth Policy Institute of Iowa (YPII) and Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) convened key stakeholders from across the state for facilitated discussions on improving normalcy in congregate care settings. Attendees, including representatives from DHS, young people who have spent time in the foster care system, and congregate care provider staff, learned about the recent laws, adolescent brain development, and results of a youth survey before generating actionable steps that agencies can take to promote normalcy for young people in congregate care settings. This report summarizes those discussions and the policy and practice recommendations that emerged from this process.

 

Link to full document