The Luncheon will be held at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, in Baltimore, Maryland, US on June 29, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST.  Your passion and investment to better the lives of youth in care is evident and appreciated.    We want you to join your colleagues both domestic and international as we work on this ground-breaking day of declaration.  Your influence and expertise is vital to garnering the kind of impact and action we expect to generate from this Forum.

The 2012 International Summit of Youth in Care is funded by The Andrus Family Fund, The Dave Thomas Foundation, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation.  This is an alumni-led collaborative event hosted by LIFT Teens, VOICES, Maryland Foster Youth Resource Center, and Foster Care India, and CELCIS. Together we are committed to using this event as a platform for engaging youth in care and the stakeholders that impact their lives while taking the necessary steps to ensure real and positive results.

The luncheon which is open to the child welfare community, will take place between 12:00 – 3:30 pm.  We will hold a unique panel discussion format, where our panelists will first give direct feedback on the action plan presented answer questions from the delegates, and then engage in open questions and dialogue with both live and virtual participants, using web streaming and social media technology.  At the helm of this discussion, will be a conversation on global community and global child welfare.  Together we will explore strategies to share best practices and encourage communication on a global scale.  While a uniform solution or approach is not best as each system and country is different and needs to work within their cultural norms and legal requirements, every system and country need to address the five key issues referenced above. Therefore, why not encourage communication and collaboration on best practices in forums such as this one as a starting point. Panelists include Dr. Maria Herczog, United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child; Commissioner Bryan Samuels, ACYF; Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.); Brenda Donald, CFSA; Kathleen Strottman, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute; Rita Soronen, Dave Thomas Foundation; Julie Gilbert Rosicky, International Social Service; Judge Pamela Gray, DC Superior Court. Other stakeholders invited include members of Congress, staff from USAID and UNICEF, domestic and international system leaders, and leadership staff from NGOs and Foundations worldwide.

The 2012 Summit of Youth in Care will connect young leaders from across the globe, bringing into existence a social network with enormous potential to challenge, change, and provide solutions for current practices and policies. The young people organizing and participating in this summit are passionate, experienced, and ready to engage.  In the words of one of our leaders, “we are here not to just leave an impression, we are here to leave an imprint. Witness and participate as emerging leaders from care, shape the world, one historic minute at a time. 

Schedule at a Glance