Wrap-Up of National Convening on Youth in Foster Care
September 15, 2006

Contacts:
Roye Anastasio-Bourke, 203.401.6955
Marci Bransdorf, 301.257.7348
Nicole Tidwell, 202.715.0385

The final day of the 2006 National Convening on Youth Permanence will report back on the policy briefing, research roundtable, and lessons learned. The Convening is examining the serious challenges to finding and maintaining permanent family connections for the more than 255,000 young people who are age 11 or older and in foster care. It is taking place at the Renaissance Washington Hotel, 999 Ninth St., N.W., Washington, DC.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15:

8:30 a.m.: Reports from the 2006 National Convening on Youth Permanence Research Roundtable, Policy Briefing and Lessons Learned -- Plenary Session

• Raymond L. Torres, executive director, Casey Family Services, New Haven, Connecticut;
   
• Sania A. Metzger, director of policy, Casey Family Services, New Haven, Connecticut; and
   
• Ben Kerman, director of research, Casey Family Services, New Haven, Connecticut.

9 a.m.: Telling the Story: Effective Court and Legal Partnerships to Achieve Permanence for Older Children and Youth -- Plenary Session
Moderator: Gary Stangler, executive director, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
Panelists:

• The Honorable William Thorne, Jr., Utah Court of Appeals;
   
• Robert Harris, public guardian, Cook County, Ill. Public Guardian's Office;
   
• Elizabeth Fassler, litigation supervisor, Center for Family Representation; and
   
• Jennifer Rodriquez, legislative and policy coordinator, California Youth Connection.

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