The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Foster Youth Initiative (Initiative) aims to promote the well-being and future success of young people who have experienced foster care in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, and nationally. As the Initiative’s evaluation partner, Child Trends assesses progress toward the Initiative’s goals and disseminates learnings to inform the work of the Initiative and its partners. As part of the evaluation, Child Trends convenes an Evaluation Advisory Board (Board) comprised of young people with lived experience in foster care from Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City to play an important role in interpreting findings and developing recommendations for the Initiative.
The 2024 Evaluation Advisory Board members include Daniel Bisuano, Al-Yh Holland, Jamie Kelley, Nilsa Morales, Clarissa Peña, and Tonia Ramsey. The Board is facilitated by two Child Trends interns who also have lived experience in foster care: Lanitta Berry and Alex Guerrero. All Board members and the interns contributed perspectives and insights to this brief. Members remain on the Evaluation Advisory Board for a minimum of one year, attending at least four meetings focused on building community with one another, being introduced to research, interpreting qualitative and quantitative data, and preparing to write briefs. Critically, the Board’s members bring unique perspectives shaped by their personal experiences.