| dc.description.abstract | "Youth in foster care (YFC) are one of the most exposed and underserved populations in the United States. Currently, there are over 400,000 YFC, with over 60% of those in the system of school age (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2020). Some states have developed programs to combat some of these negative outcomes, but there is still a great need for nonprofit organizations to help fill the void through social programs that develop and implement strategies to afford both emotional and tangible support for YFC. One non such organization is FosterHope, a nonprofit based in California, with a mission to support and empower teens and young adults experiencing foster care. After working within the community for 5 years, FosterHope identified an opportunity to scale the organization to advocate for systemic change more effectively within the county foster care system. This project was conducted to provide FosterHope with recommendations on how the organization can scale in a way that creates change within the foster care system of the county while continuing to serve the everyday needs of local YFC. Document analysis and employee interviews highlighted some important findings that differed from initial expectations for recommendations. While FosterHope has a strong commitment to improving the lives of YFC and a desire to scale in both organizational size and programming, findings highlighted several steps that must be taken prior to any further conversations about scaling, including addressing concerns with board involvement, strategic planning around fundraising and marketing and staff development.
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