From untold story to global spotlight: transformed PBS SoCal’s foster care initiative into a powerful storytelling movement that inspired awareness, advocacy, and brighter futures for foster youth.

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The Industry: Public Media & Education

The Rub: A great deal of work has been underway to improve the lives of foster youth across Southern California. For decades these foster youth, ages 2-18, have been living in undesirable, stifled situations without loving families, support, resources or future plans. Beyond that, there’s been a serious lack of education, mentoring, community, parenting and legislative laws to address the issue and turn things around. Even beyond that, there’s been a lack of empowerment and encouragement around the life-changing decision of parenting – the very thing these foster youth need.

The Mindset: Foster care is less of a national problem and more an individual parenting problem. It’s not in my backyard and I’m not in a position to adopt, so I don’t want to worry about it.

The Urgency: Every day that goes by, foster youth across Southern California continue living in bad conditions. Eventually they will become displaced, homeless or incarcerated. Fostering, adoption and mentoring are critical to gradually eliminate it. Harnessing the power of public media can help drive action.

The KPIs: Audience awareness & engagement. Positive reviews. Fostering and adoption rates. Mentoring rates. Public media viewership.