Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Celebrates Foster Youth Shadow Day

Washington, D.C. - The Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth proudly hosted Foster Youth Shadow Day, held on June 9th and 10th, 2026, bringing 42 former foster youth from across the country to Capitol Hill for two days of civic engagement, leadership development, and shadowing a Member of the Caucus. 

Hosted in cooperation with the National Foster Youth Institute, Shadow Day provides participants with the opportunity to shadow Members of Congress and congressional staff, get a first-hand experience observing how the legislative branch works, and engage directly with those shaping federal child welfare policy. The annual event reflects the Caucus's commitment to ensuring that young people with lived experience in foster care have a seat at the table.

Throughout the two-day program, participants:

• Shadowed Members of Congress and their staff.
• Learned about the legislative process and other relevant advocacy trainings. 
• Participated in policy discussions on issues affecting children and youth in foster care.
• Connected with bipartisan congressional leaders, federal officials, and national child welfare organizations.
• Built lasting relationships with peers committed to improving outcomes for foster youth nationwide.

During the annual luncheon, all six co-chairs of the Caucus provided remarks, emphasizing the need for lived experience voices in the halls of Congress. Two co-chair staffers - Anna Whitwam (Rep. Gwen Moore) and Haley Tran (Rep. Zach Nunn) - received awards recognizing their dedication in improving the foster care system. 

"I am so honored to receive the Fostering Legislative Change award." said Anna, legislative assistant for Rep. Gwen Moore. "It has been a privilege to help advance reforms to critical support programs, like Chafee and Title IV-B funding. I hope the work that I have done on behalf of Congresswoman Moore will have a lasting, positive impact on the lives of current and former foster youth, both now and for years to come. Thank you, NFYI, for giving me a platform to do this work and for being an amazing partner in the effort to improve our child welfare system."

The Caucus extends its sincere appreciation to the Members of Congress, their staff, and volunteers whose dedication made this year's program possible. Their continued support ensures that foster youth have meaningful opportunities to engage with the institutions that shape national policy.

The Caucus remains committed to advancing bipartisan solutions that improve outcomes for children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system. By elevating the voices of those with lived experience, the Caucus seeks to build a stronger, more responsive foster care system and inspire the next generation of public servants.