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Child Welfare Leaders, Policymakers, Young People Gather for National Convening on Youth Permanence

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WASHINGTON, DC – A close look at federal and state policies – from neighborhoods to the halls of Congress – affecting the barriers to finding permanent families for youth in foster care will kick off the 2006 National Convening on Youth Permanence September 13-15, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

A panel of policy experts from the child welfare field, state and local agencies, the judicial and legal systems, academia and professional associations will discuss “Achieving Family Permanence: Unfinished Business for Older Youth in Foster Care.” Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) will deliver the opening remarks at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13.

The policy briefing kicks off the 2006 National Convening on Youth Permanence – the largest and most comprehensive gathering on this topic, with nearly 400 child welfare commissioners and directors, judges, attorneys and providers from 40 states planning to attend. The conference will feature presentations and working sessions on the serious challenges to finding and maintaining permanent family connections for the more than 255,000 young people who are 11 or older and in foster care.

Many young people “age out” of foster care at 18 without having established any meaningful and enduring relationship with a family member or other caring adult. Without a lifelong committed family relationship, these young people are at high risk for negative outcomes including homelessness, unemployment, and criminal activity.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland, and its direct service agency, Casey Family Services of New Haven, Connecitcut, longtime innovators in the field of child welfare policy and practice, are lead sponsors for the policy briefing and the National Convening, with support from The Freddie Mac Foundation, The Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption, Casey Family Programs, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, the Hite Foundation, the Stuart Foundation, and 37 other nationally known organizations.

On-site registration is available for the media at the event location, the Renaissance Washington Hotel at 999 Ninth Street, NW. For information on the policy briefing and the two-day National Convening, including a media panel moderated by award winning journalist Judy Woodruff, please visit www.caseyfamilyservices.org.

At 1 p.m., on September 19, 2006, there will be a toll-free audio news conference summarizing the activities of the Washington, D.C. conference. To reserve a spot, please call Nancy Bennett, 800.834.1110