THINK OF US

VIRTUAL SUPPORT SERVICES - THINK OF US' FLAGSHIP PROJECTS ARE COMMITTED TO STEERING AND CO-DRIVING SUBSTANTIAL, OFTEN MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO FUNDAMENTALLY RESHAPE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 IN 2020, TOU UTILIZED ITS POSITION TO ESTABLISH A COMMAND CENTER. THIS SERVED AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE, OFFERING SUPPORT TO FOSTER CARE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THE INITIATIVE SET UP A FOUNDATIONAL DIGITAL MODEL, COMPLEMENTED BY DIRECT 1:1 SUPPORT, PROVIDING FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO CRUCIAL RESOURCES SUCH AS SHORT AND LONG-TERM HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. BUILDING UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE COVID-19 COMMAND CENTER, THINK OF US FURTHER EXPANDED ITS IMPACT BY LAUNCHING THE VIRTUAL SUPPORT SERVICES (VSS) PLATFORM. IN 2023, TOU RESPONDED TO 7,099 REQUESTS ON BEHALF OF 3,669 FAMILIES - HELPING THEM ACCESS OVER $50 MILLION IN RESOURCES.

CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE - THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE, LED BY A VICE PRESIDENT, SERVES AS A CRUCIAL SUPPORT ENTITY BEYOND THINK OF US (TOU). THIS CENTER UTILIZES BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE TO ADVANCE SYSTEM DESIGN, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON INCORPORATING THE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT COMBINES PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION, COMMUNITY BUILDING, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, AND PROXIMATE POLICY, THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE SYSTEMATICALLY INTEGRATES LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO ALL FACETS OF CHILD WELFARE RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE. THE GOAL IS TO EMPOWER THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEM, ALLOWING THEM TO UTILIZE THEIR POWER AND PERSPECTIVES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE. MOREOVER, THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE OPERATES AS A LIVING MODEL, DEMONSTRATING HOW TO CENTER LIVED EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT AND TRULY MAKE CHILD WELFARE HUMAN-CENTERED. BY BLENDING RESEARCH TO SET NARRATIVES AND ENVISION POSSIBILITIES ALONGSIDE CRAFTING PUBLIC POLICY TO CODIFY EFFECTIVE PRACTICES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE IS DEDICATED TO DRIVING A NATIONAL SYSTEMS CHANGE MOVEMENT. IN 2023, 2,279 YOUTH, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM PARTICIPATED IN OUR RESEARCH STUDIES, SURVEYS, AND IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS.