In 2019, Act 400 created an extended foster care (EFC) program in Louisiana for youth who exit foster care on their 18th birthday. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) worked with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Youth Villages, and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to implement this voluntary and important program. Youth Villages, through the LifeSet model, provides intensive, one-on-one support to young people who meet criteria for the program. Our presenters are Shannon Catanzaro, the EFC manager for DCFS, and Angelina Gallwey, who is currently in the EFC program. Ms. Catanzaro will share current EFC policies and practice. Ms. Gallwey will discuss her experiences in the program.
Speakers:
- Shannon Catanzaro, LCSW, Extended Foster Care Manager, DCFS
- Angelina Gallwey, Extended Foster Care Program participant
Objectives:
- Become familiar with the implementation of the EFC program.
- Learn the criteria for eligibility in the Extended Foster Care (EFC) program.
- Understand how to access DCFS EFC policies.
- Hear about the first-hand experiences of a young person in the EFC program.
