Laura Polk Hobbelman’s Post

An Apology to Youth in the Child Welfare System As I drifted into sleep last night, my mind wandered to the incredible young people I have the honor of working with, individuals who have lived through experiences that no one should ever endure. These are the same individuals who, despite their hardships, stand strong and resolute, speaking truth to power in their quest for change. The stark contrast between their unwavering poise and the trauma they have endured within the foster care system moved me to tears. It is a painful realization of the failures within the child welfare system, including those like me who have been part of it, that sometimes seek to "help" youth by making decisions "for" them instead of "with" them. In that moment of reflection, I felt deep shame for my past actions and for those who share my role. We have all contributed to a system that has often silenced the voices of those it is meant to protect and support. For this, I am profoundly sorry. But with this realization comes a renewed determination to do better, to bridge the gap between intention and impact. I am committed to working alongside young people, not just as a helper, but as a partner in driving meaningful change. It is time to move from making decisions "for" them to making decisions "with" them, ensuring that their voices are not just heard but valued and acted upon. This journey of growth and transformation begins with acknowledging our mistakes and actively seeking to rectify them. I am dedicated to learning from you, listening to your experiences, and advocating for a child welfare system that truly serves and empowers every young person it touches.

Cool new program from First Round Capital. They’ve been spending a lot of time digging into PMF these past few years – see my interview with Todd Jackson here: https://lnkd.in/epE_FYVj and it’s great to see it come together into such a detailed resource for founders https://lnkd.in/evy-pwFu

There is a great article from our friends at Binti - Duke Storen and Felicia Curcuru: “Enhancing Kinship Care Placements: Challenges, Success Factors, and Technological Solutions” featured in the Policy & Practice, Winter 2023 edition, from APHSA -- American Public Human Services Association Increasing #kinship care is crucial to increasing permanency for children and youth in the child welfare system. We’re doing what we can to help by identifying people mentioned in the narrative who might be a support for the family. On average, Augintel identifies 28 more people from the case narrative than are identified in structured data fields alone. This means more chances for kinship care which equates to, as the article states, “more stable placements, improved mental and emotional well-being, and stronger family relationships.” Read the full article from Felicia and Duke below. #kinshipcare #welfare #fostercare #fostercareawareness

It took me 5 years to realize: True leadership isn't about commanding; it's about serving. To bring out the best in your team, you must give your best: Want the best performance? ↳ Give them the best opportunities and resources. Want quality changes? ↳ Provide quality feedback. Want better productivity at work? ↳ Give them better rest and recharge conditions. Want your team to grow? ↳ Provide them with learning resources and mentorship. Want more victories and new achievements? ↳ Celebrate the team's achievements with gratitude and enthusiasm. A leader is not the one who is #1 in the team. A leader is the one who treats everyone in the team as #1.

Home visiting leaders have identified maintaining a strong workforce as both a key challenge and a top priority for the field. A new Child Trends brief presents an overview of how home visiting leaders in three states are addressing workforce challenges, including efforts to increase home visitors’ compensation and provide additional support for their professional and personal well-being. https://lnkd.in/e-WfCDd7

If you have Foster Care lived experience and are between the ages of 18 and 25, there’s a fantastic PAID federal position that is now accepting applications!! Justin and I have been in this role for several years so let me know if you have questions! “The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) is an important tool for tracking the independent living services states provide to young people and can be used as a starting point in assessing the performance of states in improving young people’s outcomes through these services.” NYTD Purpose: To collect case-level information on young people to help understand how, and how well, states prepare youth in the child welfare system for adulthood” See also the Children's Bureau website for more information: https://lnkd.in/g3qu5c8A To apply: Sending an interest email to cw-mail@jbsinternational.com or ltovar@jbsinternational.com, completing a profile form, sharing their resume, and scheduling an informational interview. Justin Black