Fully 1,072 young people ages 15 to 21 now make up nearly half of the District foster care population and age out of the system at the rate of 140 a year, on average. On May 20, a broad spectrum of community members will gather to explore how best to ensure these youth leave foster care with the permanent bonds they need to succeed in adulthood.

The DC Child and Family Services Agency will hold the first-ever District Convening on Youth
Permanence May 20, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Washington Convention Center (Mount Vernon Place entrance). Major sponsor is the Freddie Mac Foundation with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation-Casey Family Services and KidSave.

“With more older youth in District foster care than ever before, the need to prepare them for successful adulthood is urgent,” said CFSA Director Sharlynn Bobo. “Every one of these young people needs permanent relationships with caring adults committed to providing long-term guidance and support. We’re seeking to involve the community in ensuring our teens in foster care have these connections.”

“Helping improve the lives of foster children and youth is at the heart of our Foundation’s work,” said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., chairman and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation. “That’s why we are honored to be part of this effort to make sure foster youth enter adulthood with the support, resources, and confidence they need to succeed in life.”

The District Convening on Youth Permanence will feature presentations by national child welfare experts and local leaders and a series of morning and afternoon workshops addressing needs and solutions. A complete program of events is available at www.cfsa.dc.gov. Highlights include:
· Individual presentations, a panel discussion, and world premiere of an original video featuring the
personal perspectives of older District youth in foster care and young adults who have aged out of the local child welfare system.

• Celebrity guest Daniel Sunjata, Tony-nominated Broadway, film, and television actor currently costarring
  in the acclaimed FX drama series “Rescue Me.”
• Opening remarks from national expert Sarah Greenblatt, executive director, Casey Center for Effective Child Welfare Practice, Casey Family Services, Baltimore, MD.
• Keynote speaker Pat O’Brien, executive director, You’ve Gotta Believe! Older Child Adoption and Permanency Movement, New York, NY.
• Dance performance by the Taratibu Youth Association, Inc., Hyattsville, MD.
• First showing of an original 30-by-6-foot mural featuring images of District youth in foster care by local artist Cheryl Foster.