Building New Alliances Across Sectors In 2025, Foster America convened a series of cross-sector gatherings in cities, including
BRINGING FAMILIES AND EDUCATION
INTO THE CONVERSATION AT SXSW EDU
In March 2025, Foster America brought this conversation to SXSW EDU in Austin, one of the nation’s leading gatherings of educators and innovators. During a 90-minute interactive workshop, our team engaged educators, nonprofit leaders, and cross-sector partners in exploring how schools and community institutions intersect with the child welfare system— and how earlier support for families can help address challenges before they escalate into crises.
Washington, D.C., New York, Denver, and Boston— bringing together leaders from education, healthcare, philanthropy, technology, government, and community organizations.
These conversations were designed to strengthen relationships across fields that shape the conditions for children and families. At the heart of these conversations was a shared understanding: supporting families cannot be the responsibility of the child welfare system alone. The conditions that help families thrive—safe housing, healthcare, strong schools, economic stability, and community connection— are shaped by many sectors working together. Through intimate breakfasts, salon dinners, and leadership meet-ups, participants explored how their work intersects with family well-being and what it would take to shift from a reactive child welfare response to a proactive community approach centered on family strengths. The gatherings sparked new partnerships, surfaced shared challenges, and expanded the circle of leaders engaged in building stronger support systems for children and families. These gatherings helped Foster America continue to grow a broader community of changemakers—people who may not work directly in child welfare, but whose leadership is essential to ensuring families have the resources and relationships they need to thrive.
Participants worked through real-world student scenarios, examined how schools encounter family challenges in everyday settings, and identified ways their roles could help strengthen support for children and families. By bringing these ideas into a space focused on education and innovation, the session introduced new audiences to Foster America’s work and expanded the network of leaders thinking about how their fields can help families stay safely together.
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20 | FOSTER AMERICA 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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