read the Northern California Youth Listening Sessions Report by Clicking the Image Below. see the companion video report from our youtube channel.

Youth Listening Sessions

In an effort to increase understanding of the needs of youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, Mental Health California™, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, presented a series of listening sessions across Northern California. As Kaiser Permanente prepares to bolster services to this population to mitigate the negative impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), it sought to gain greater insights, hearing directly from the youth, to serve as a guide for service providers with a vested interest in delivering trauma-informed services to individuals and communities impacted by trauma. This project aligns with Kaiser Permanente’s national focus on ACES and a prevention strategy for gun violence reduction. It further supports Kaiser’s regional strategies for mental health and community safety. The listening sessions were ideation-centric, blending traditional listening techniques with ideation, art, creativity, and safe space carve-outs for the youth for honest dialogue and self expression.

Advisory team

We're thankful for the guiding support of leading organizations dedicated to the health and mental-wellness of system-involved youth. Our collaborative partners include Alameda County Behavioral Health Department, California Alliance of Child and Family Services, California Coalition for Youth, California Department of Education, CalVoices, Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, First Place for Youth, Sacramento County Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services, Stanford Youth Solutions + Sierra Forever Families, and Transitions Children’s Services.

Kickoff Event

On Monday, October 28, 2019, at The California Endowment, Oakland, the initiative presented a kickoff event providing an overview of the Youth Listening Sessions series. The convening included presentations on the status of California’s foster care and juvenile justice systems, as well as a discussion on the impacts of trauma on system involved youth. Tracy L. Ward, LCSW, Community Benefits Project Manager III, External and Community Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, provided a warm welcome, and Kristene Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health California™, shared an overview of the project with attendees. A panel of experts powerfully enlightened the audience on the following topics: System Realities and Beyond: Foster Youth in California by Emily Jensen, Vice President of Programs, First Place for Youth; The State of California’s Juvenile Justice System by Sheron R. Wright, MPH, Program Analyst, Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health and Coordinator, Juvenile Justice Roundtable; and, The Impacts of Trauma on System Involved Youth by Jevon Wilkes, Executive Director, California Coalition for Youth.

youth voices and perspectives

The goal of the listening sessions was to spotlight the voices of youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems to gain their honest perspectives and ensure they are heard, with outcomes influencing programs that serve them. Youth also had the opportunity to enhance their ability to participate in imagining a service provider's future through ideation and innovation discussions and activities. The sessions were designed to be engaging through pre-determined and open-ended questions, listening, and invitations to the youth to share about their experiences, health, and wellbeing in ways that can lead to positive change.

Thank you to all who attended the Youth Listening Sessions!

Images from the Youth Listening Sessions