Today I was the guest of The Children’s Advocacy Institute, attending their Roundtable in Sacramento, California. The brightest minds from across the State of California gathered together to discuss the needs of children. Two topics of discussion were the main focus.
Chantel Johnson and Janay Swain from the California Youth Connection presented on the welfare of children, with respect to foster care. With so many cuts in funding to foster programs, a constant eye must be kept on pending and newly proposed legislation. Their organization has their finger on the pulse of any and all changes that affect youth across the state.
Dusty Copeland, an advocate for children, gave a passionate presentation on Meeting the Health Needs of California’s Foster Children. She is fighting to protect the rights of medically fragile foster children across her state. Children are being placed in foster care with no medical history forwarded to the foster homes, which on most occasions, have no medical training. Triage Homes are the answer, providing health care professionals, helping in transition into the new home and knowing of all the state services available.