The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Foster Youth Initiative (the Initiative) aims to promote the well-being and future success of young people who have experienced foster care in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, and nationally.[1] As the Initiative’s evaluation partner, Child Trends assesses progress toward the Initiative’s goals and disseminates learnings to inform the work of the Initiative and its partners. As part of this evaluation, Child Trends convenes an Evaluation Advisory Board (the Board) composed of young people with lived experience in foster care from Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City. The Board plays a critical role in interpreting evaluation findings and developing recommendations grounded in lived experience.
The 2025 Board members include Daniel Bisuano, Cheyanne Deopersaud, Abby Rubtsova Henderson, Regginald Holloway, Nilsa Morales, and Tonia Ramsey. The Board is supported by a Child Trends intern, Ogechi Ukaeje, who also has lived experience in foster care.[2] Board members commit to at least one year of participation and attend a minimum of four meetings focused on building community, introducing the research process, interpreting qualitative and quantitative data, and preparing to write briefs. Critically, Board members bring unique perspectives shaped by their personal experiences, strengthening the relevance and usefulness of the evaluation’s findings and recommendations.
As members of the 2025 Evaluation Advisory Board, we chose to focus on career development and employment because these issues consistently shape the opportunities, stability, and long-term success of young people with foster care experience. We reviewed findings from Child Trends’ evaluation activities and reflected on the barriers youth face when trying to explore career interests, access job opportunities, and/or secure sustainable employment.