Pictured above: Young people and staff were asked to describe the Fair Futures culture.
Welcome to the Fair Futures Family!
At the Center, we believe that the secret sauce to Fair Futures’ success is not just about the “What” staff do, but the “HOW” we do it … that is:
HOW WE MAKE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL
Watch this video to see how young people describe their coach!
Watch this video to see how young people describe their coach!
Young people help interview/screen Coaches and all Fair Futures staff are trained and supported in modeling the Fair Futures’ strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development approach.
This means we:
we don't use terms like:
We practice The 3Cs:
The Center team supports over 500 Fair Futures staff across the NYC foster care and juvenile justice systems through a suite of virtual and in-person trainings, technical assistance, workshops, and learning communities. Our approach is the same as how we treat young people – we build relationships.
We listen. We use strength-based language. And … we celebrate each other!
As a result, a strong, collaborative community has been built systemwide where staff come together to share challenges, best practices, and network – we call it the “Fair Futures Family!”
Staff quotes from the Chapin Hall Evaluation on Fair Futures Implementation
THE FAIR FUTURES MODEL:
“The Fair Futures model creates a very structured framework for us Coaches in terms of the layout and setting goals, obtainable goals, for youth in order to help them successfully be independent and transition into adulthood.”
[The Fair Futures Model] “gives the kids a voice now. It's not just showing them one road, but letting them know they have options… so they'll be able to choose what path they want to take.”
‘It often leads to young people feeling like, “This person cares about my dreams, my goals and, like, they want to help explore it with me. This is dope.”’
“The youth just get an actual person for once. And that person can follow them through some of the toughest periods of their lives or some of the happiest times of their lives."
THE CULTURE:
"Very youth-driven"
"A family”
“Collaborative”
“Inclusive”
"Focused on relationship-building"
"A strong network"
“Fair Futures is forcing child welfare as a whole - child welfare youth development as a whole - to shift … toward genuine care and attention for the whole person.”
THE CENTER SUPPORTS:
“The type of support, first of all, that [the Center] gives to staff, I think is absolutely amazing. I've never seen that before.”
“With Fair Futures, it's like – here's the manual, job descriptions, overview, training, the 1:1 technical assistance. Like anything and everything you need, they'll give it to you."
“I think it's like, kind of like a wand, full of resources … a very detailed wand to help staff and the kids pursue whatever they need to accomplish at that specific time.”
“We have so much support … I just feel like it's just... you almost can’t—you can't lose, you just can't lose.”
