INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS

 

ILP Institute 2008 is geared for ILP coordinators, foster parents of transition-aged youth, transitional housing coordinators and all those interested in learning more about building solutions to the challenges facing foster youth who are transitioning out of foster care into adulthood. This institute will focus on compassionate and effective ways to serve transition age youth.

 

  • Learn about promising practices from experts from across California and the United States
  • Work together to explore and develop effective solutions
  • Network with others who help and assist transition-aged youth
  • Participate on focused group sessions for foster parents, independent living
    coordinators, and transitional housing coordinators
  • Attend workshop sessions covering a greater spectrum of topics than years past

 

Please stay to the end of the Institute so you can hear our final keynote speaker, Pat O’Brien, author of “You Gotta Believe,” who will speak on how to help older foster youth find permanent families.

 

FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTERS INCLUDE:

 

Pat O’Brien
Pat O’Brien is the Founder & Executive Director of You Gotta Believe! The Older Child Adoption & Permanency Movement, Inc. You Gotta Believe is one of the few placement agencies in the country that limits its practice to finding permanent parents for teen and pre-teen children in foster care without regard to whether the child is freed for adoption or not. Mr. O’Brien earned his Master of Science degree in Social Work from Columbia University. In October of 2007, he was honored with an Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

 

Michael Sanders
Michael Sanders serves as a national trainer and consultant for numerous school, juvenile justice and child welfare systems. With nearly 20 years experience in both public and private human service systems, he brings his enthusiasm for children and families in a humorous and exciting presentation. He has written and trained numerous curriculum for social workers, foster parents, youth and community partners. Recently, Mr. Sanders has focused on assisting systems with remembering the importance of permanency for older youth in the child welfare system. He provides consultation on balancing both independent living skills and permanency issues for youth. Currently, Mr. Sanders serves as a Technical Assistant for the California Permanency for Youth Project (CPYP) and the California Connected by 25 Initiative.