California Youth Connection

California Youth Connection is a nonprofit advocacy/youth leadership organization composed of current and former foster youth that strive to improve the foster care system by making it possible for the youth to have a say in how child welfare services are delivered. With 35 county-based chapters throughout California, CYC works at the state and local levels to educate legislators and policy makers about how policies and programs affect foster youth. Current or former foster youth members sit on, and participate in, committees and give presentations throughout the state on their experiences in foster care and their recommendations for change. One of the primary goals of the organization is to improve social work practice and policy by empowering youth to articulate how things can be done differently.