Think of Us

Register Today for the Intergenerational Housing Blueprint Release - October 24th - Generations United Join us on Oct. 24 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM ET for the release of Healthier Lives Across Generations: A Blueprint for Intergenerational Living. We will unveil innovative strategies for cultivating intergenerational living and hear from thought leaders and fellow advocates dedicated to creating safe and....

📣 Forward for Families: A Virtual Rally and Day of Action

Join us and national partners tomorrow, October 23rd, 3-4 PM ET, for a crucial virtual rally on child welfare legislation. Learn about the bipartisan Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 9076) and how you can get involved.

Featured speakers include:
• Loni Greninger, MPA, Vice-Chairwoman, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
• Melissa Merrick, PhD, CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America
• Ali Caliendo, PhD, Executive Director, Foster Kinship
• Shye Robinson, 2024 CCAI Foster Youth Intern
• Lindsay Calveri, Iowa Parent Leader, National Resource Center, Safe Babies

Time is critical - title IV-B expires on December 31 without Senate action. Your voice matters in shaping the future of family support systems.

RSVP now:

Forward for Families: A Virtual Rally and Day of Action Calling all advocates for children and families! We invite you to join us at 3 PM ET on Wednesday October 23rd to learn about an important opportunity to advocate for federal legislation to help children and their families who experience the child welfare system and optimize resources more effective...

As CEO of , Sixto Cancel champions care, advocating for youth in foster care to be placed with relatives or in family-based settings. Think of Us, led by those with firsthand foster care experience, is a pioneering lab creating transformative policies and programs to uplift youth and families in the child welfare system.

We're excited to hear his session at the 2024 Hilton Humanitarian Symposium and Prize Ceremony! Join the N. Hilton Foundation and sign up for the livestream on October 9 at https://tinyurl.com/hiltonprize2024

📢 Just Released: "Kin, First and Foremost" - Our latest comprehensive look at kinship care in child welfare.

Based on interviews with over 500 youth, families, and professionals, this new report reveals:

▪️Challenges faced by kinship families
▪️Opportunities for systemic improvement
▪️Recommendations for creating a truly kin-first system

Explore the full report and join us in advocating for better support for kinship families: https://bit.ly/3ZIBc5b

Recently, the House Committee on Ways and Means introduced the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act. The bill would reauthorize and reform title IV-B programs and lay the groundwork for the transformational change that is needed in child welfare.

Think of Us applauds the House Committee on Ways and Means, particularly Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL) of the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare for their work on this bill. We have been proud to partner with the Committee to inform and shape several of these provisions and are proud to endorse the bill.

Our full statement:

“The Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act represents the culmination of a year-long bipartisan effort to implement long-overdue reforms to critical child welfare programs. It has been more than 15 years since title IV-B was meaningfully reformed, leaving us with a woefully inadequate system for today’s realities. Passing this legislation is a crucial down payment on the transformational change that children and families impacted by the child welfare system have been calling for and need.

Think of Us is deeply grateful for the thousands of young people, parents, and kin caregivers who have contributed their wisdom and perspective to this process. Their expertise and advocacy were essential to drive and shape these reforms.

Implementing these reforms will bring us one step closer to building the conditions wherein every child can heal, develop, and thrive within a family and their community.”

Think of Us Urges Swift Passage of Strengthening Families Act TOU supports the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act, recently introduced by the House Committee on Ways and Means. This legislation aims to overhaul title IV-B programs, bolstering family support and reforming child welfare systems.

The recent Senate investigation into unaccountable group homes and institutional settings has revealed a model that prioritizes profit over the well-being of children. It's time for transparency and transformative change. We must invest in in-home mental health services, support families, and prioritize community-based alternatives. More from our founder and CEO Sixto Cancel via The Hill:

Kids for cash: How for-profit group homes harm vulnerable children Many children are sent to these facilities not because it is in their best interest, but because it is profitable.

Think of Us is excited to announce Robert L. Matthews as our new Chief Program Officer! Robert's leadership roles in implementing kinship care, prevention initiatives, and deep understanding of child welfare dynamics will supercharge our impact.

"I'm honored to join the Think of Us team and work alongside inspiring changemakers who are putting the lived experience of those impacted by child welfare at the forefront of driving systemic transformation," Robert shared. "This role allows me to build upon my prior work in expanding kinship care, strengthening prevention services, and improving outcomes for families and youth."

We're grateful to have Robert's expertise in unifying our work under a cohesive vision to create better outcomes for youth and families. Welcome to the team, Robert!

Think of Us Welcomes Robert L. Matthews as Inaugural Chief Program Officer Robert L. Matthews joins Think of Us as Chief Program Officer from July 15, 2024. With extensive experience in child welfare, including as Director of D.C.'s Child and Family Services Agency, Robert spearheaded initiatives like the "Kin-First" program and achieved federal approval for D.C.'s Family....

Are you 21 or older and have spent at least two years in foster care? If so, researchers at Teachers College Columbia University are interested in learning about the perceptions of success and wellbeing among young people with foster care experience. To explore eligibility for the study, visit the Study Eligibility Form Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG3oEunHFD49_DjI9Jc2PdZt3szg-R_2Z5VGAbRVbUXQD45w/viewform

For any questions please contact Burcu Pekcan:
Phone: (201) 286-7303
E-mail: [email protected]

🚨 Today, the Senate Finance Committee released a devastating report on the abuse and neglect in for-profit youth residential treatment facilities. This investigation is a crucial step towards accountability, underscoring the need for higher standards, stronger oversight, and investment in community-based alternatives.

Residential treatment centers put profits ahead of children's safety, Senate report finds Based on a two-year investigation, the findings reveal a pattern of physical and sexual abuse, along with civil rights violations.

This week, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee announced they will be holding a hearing this Wednesday, June 12, at 10am ET on the practices and treatment of youth in residential treatment facilities.

Think of Us and our partners are looking for people to share their stories and testimonies with policymakers about their experience in congregate care and non-family placements like group homes, homes for pregnant and parenting teens, therapeutic residential facilities, and shelters.

We will gather your words, stories, and insights and share them with the Senate Finance Committee and submit as testimony to the official hearing record. Our goal is to bring real voices and experiences into this hearing.

If you are interested, please complete this form by Monday, June 10 at 11:59pm EST. If you'd like to help, please share this form with your network!

Share Your Experience in Congregate Care with Policymakers Think of Us and 11:11 Media are working with several partners to bring your voice to policymakers. We are here to support you in sharing your experience, perspective, and opinions with leaders in Washington D.C. Please read below to learn more about the opportunity, background on how the opportunity...

Every day in California, children in the foster care system are represented by court-appointed attorneys in proceedings where judges make critical decisions about their placement, safety, families, and future. A first-of-its-kind investigative report by Advokids, Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Akin reveals that two-thirds of children in California foster care have never met with their attorney. Learn more:

https://bit.ly/4b5n20K

Exciting News! California is launching a groundbreaking guaranteed income pilot program for Riverside and San Bernardino counties to empower pregnant people and former foster youth!

It's specifically for youth who are turning 21 years old between January 25, 2024 - October 25, 2024 and exiting/aging out of extended foster care. Applicants turning 21 must reside in California at time of the application. Annual income cannot exceed $90,616 for residents in Riverside County and cannot exceed $88,847 in San Bernardino County. Learn more:

Guaranteed Income Pilot Program — Inland SoCal United Way GUaranteed Income Pilot Program Inland SoCal United Way is working with the California Department of Social Services to administer a Guaranteed Income Pilot program. The GI Pilot for ISCUW will serve eligible pregnant people (first or second trimester) in Riverside County and Foster Youth (turning 2...

California youth with foster care experience:

Missed the April 15 tax deadline? No worries – the opportunity to file your taxes for free is still within reach! Check out this free virtual self-filing guide:

California Foster Youth Tax Credit: Self File Tool | JBAY This page shares all of JBAY's resources related to filing taxes and tax credits for transition-age youth. These resources include a comprehensive guide for youth on tax filing and tax credits, a tax prep checklist, a social media toolkit to assist with outreach and more.

📢Join us online on Wednesday, April 3, from 6-7 PM ET/3-4 PM PT for an insightful briefing with child welfare lived experts. This briefing will focus on the Doris Duke Foundation’s Opportunities for Prevention & Transformation initiative (Opt-In for Families), in partnership with Think of Us.

Opt-In for Families is supporting efforts to assist families in meeting basic needs like housing, transportation, and food assistance, emphasizing support without child welfare system involvement.

This national briefing is uniquely tailored for birth parents, featuring insights from those who've experienced the child welfare system. Discover the vision behind Opt-In for Families, directly guided by birth parents’ experiences.

RSVP now and be part of the transformation!

First National Lived Experience Briefing on Prevention Join us on Wednesday, April 3, from 6p-7p ET/3p-4p PT for a briefing with child welfare lived experts on the Doris Duke Foundation’s Opportunities for Prevention & Transformation initiative (Opt-In for Families) – in partnership with Think of Us.

California residents:
📢 Got your hands on that W2? It's not just a piece of paper; it's the golden ticket to more cash in your pockets! 💸✨ Let's talk taxes and turning that paperwork into a refund party. 🎉
But hey, here's the scoop: there's a new player in town—the
$1,117 Foster Youth Tax Credit. 🌈 It's not your usual
tax break: it's a game-changer for youth who have experience in foster care. 💙
So, grab your coffee, cozy up with your calculator, and head to
jbay.org/resources/FYTC to unlock the secrets of maximizing your refund. 🧮💼 Don't leave any cash on the table; let's make tax season a
celebration of financial wins! 💰💪
🚀🔍

As a child in the foster care system, Kristen Nicole Powell’s “coping skill” was running away. She shares:

“SOUL Family would allow young people to build these relationships and figure out who they are close to and keep those people in their lives before they turn 18,” Powell said. “It allows youth to have autonomy and choose who they want in their lives, and who they can trust most when they need help.”

“At 18, I was in Kansas alone with no family, but I had mentors who poured into my life and brought me into their families,” she added. “This is how I learned to be a mother, how I learned about unconditional love, and so many more beautiful life skills that I still use today. Imagine the impact they could have made on me at 16.”

Former foster kids help develop program to relieve instability and isolation in Kansas system - Kansas Reflector The proposed SOUL Family program would allow teenage foster kids to stay with a close friend or family member.

We're hiring!! Join us to transform the nation’s child welfare system and improve outcomes for the millions of children and families it impacts each year.

Open roles include:

Product Manager - $120,000-$150,000
Senior Manager, Finance - $85,000-$100,000
Senior Associate, Talent & Culture - $75,000
Lead Software Engineer - $140,000-$170,000

We offer:

🌎 100% Remote

🏖 Flexible PTO

🤒 Sick Leave

🎁 8 Major Holidays + 3 Org-wide Breaks

⚖ Work/Life Balance

🏥 100% Monthly Medical Premium Paid For You & 50% For Your Dependents

😁 Dental, Life Insurance, Vision, Short Term Disability

📚 $1,500 Annual Education Stipend

🏡 Build Your Home Office Stipend

& much more!

Learn more, share with a friend, or apply today:

Join us at the forefront of change in child welfare Child Welfare is at the beginning of a transformational shift and we are working to accelerate it. To meet that need, we are growing and looking to add new energy and perspective to our world-class team.

In February 2023, we had an extraordinary opportunity to convene a group of 20 Lived Experience Ambassadors to spend time with staff from multiple federal agencies, including Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg, to co-design ways the current administration can improve the system for transition-age youth. What resulted is a must-read call to action for federal and state child welfare systems to listen to the voices of those it impacts the most: those who lived it. Read the Report HERE: https://bit.ly/3Wzc2SI