Sibling Connection Retreat: Architecting the Future of Sibling Connection

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and 2026 marks a historic milestone: exactly 25 years since California Youth Connection (CYC) codified the Foster Youth Bill of Rights into law.

While we celebrate this legacy, a critical gap remains. CYC findings reveal that many child welfare professionals still lack CORE training specifically focused on sibling connections. In honor of this anniversary, we invite Ventura County’s child welfare leaders, including Judges, Lawyers, Social Workers, and Resource Parents, to join us. We also extend this invitation to our partners in Community Based Organizations and advocates who support youth impacted by intersecting systems for this first-of-its-kind Storytelling Retreat.

This is not a traditional lecture. It is an immersive "design lab" where your professional expertise meets youth lived experience to ensure "Systemic Intent" finally matches "Lived Reality." Your input will directly inform a new pilot curriculum for sibling connection that the system has needed for 25 years.

• Day One: Bridging the Gap Participate in youth-led storytelling and "Walk in the Shoes" reflections. We will map out where the foster youth experience diverges from the system’s intent and identify themes of disconnection.
• Day Two: Tools for Change Move into action with specialized training from Advokids and the National Network for Sibling Connection. Engage in stakeholder breakouts to build real-world case studies and identify policy shifts for the courtroom and the home.

• When: May 30th – May 31st, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Where: Poinsettia Pavilion | 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura, CA 93003
• Hospitality: Lunch and refreshments will be served in our outdoor garden area both days.
• RSVP Required: Space is strictly limited to ensure an impactful environment. Please register by May 18, 2026.

Join us in Ventura County as we turn legal rights into meaningful action and define the next 25 years of sibling practice in California.

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Host or Publisher California Youth Connection (CYC)