Blueprint Conference Reflections

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In October, staff from the Washington Student Achievement Council and College Success Foundation as well as leadership from the Washington Passport Network attended the annual Blueprint for Foster Youth College and Career Success Conference in Los Angeles, California. In-depth workshops presented by professionals with deep experience supporting youth in foster care to achieve their higher education goals provided ample opportunities to gain knowledge and create connections.

For those who weren’t able to attend, we wanted to share the major takeaways and ideas that made significant impressions on our team during the conference.

Bringing Youth Voices to the Podium
Woven throughout the conference, there were many opportunities for youth voices and experiences to be heard and inform the conversations. From workshops on case management to spoken word poetry, we had many opportunities to hear directly from youth and to learn how their experiences are informing programs, practices, and policies.

Policies as Obstacles
Although there is much focus on the need for access to financial aid for foster youth pursuing college, there has been little attention to the policies in place that set the academic standards for those students to keep that critical financial support. Sarah Pauter from the John Burton Advocates for Youth shared a presentation on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies and how the California State Legislature is seeking solutions to these challenges.

Getting Your First Job- Job Readiness Skills
For many foster youth, seeking employment and thinking about a career can happen at a younger age than their peers. A team from the Los Angeles Opportunity Youth Collaborative shared activities, tools, and techniques for supporting youth in preparing for applying and interviewing for jobs.

As we plan and prepare for the 2023 Passport to Careers Annual Conference, we will be continuing to reflect on lessons learned from attending the Blueprint Conference.

 

 

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