Official Site of The State of New Jersey
The Youth Council is composed of approximately 20 youth between the ages of 16-23 who are currently or formerly involved in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P), the Children’s System of Care (CSOC), or the DCF Office of Education (OOE) Regional Schools. The Youth Council works directly with the DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer to enact change within the New Jersey DCF system. Council members serve for a two year term.
The Council meets monthly as a whole and has ongoing subcommittee meetings. The Youth Council meets with Commissioner Beyer on a bimonthly basis to discuss progress on subcommittee projects.
Council members have additional opportunities to participate, such as collaborating with other departments in DCF, providing feedback, offering lived experience perspectives, speaking or presenting at events, and more.
If you are interested in joining the council you can apply here.
Youth Ambassadors speak to current and potential foster parents, as well as at PRIDE trainings, group engagements, to DCF staff, or at community events about personal experiences in the system. They advocate on behalf of current and former foster youth, and address the misconceptions about youth in foster care.
If you are interested in this role, please contact Faytress Shabazz, Program Specialist, at Faytress.Shabazz@dcf.nj.gov or Charles Gunningham at Charles.Gunningham@dcf.nj.gov
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