SERVICES

It's My Life Annual Conference

An anticipated 650 youth in foster care, alumni, caregivers, and practitioners will gather for the fourth annual It's My Life conference from October 29-31, 2006 in Seattle, Washington.

A Halloween party, the sounds of Seattle's foremost gospel choir, a motivational message from a former professional baseball player who was in foster care himself - these are some of the special features this year.

This national conference embodies the seven key domains of Casey's It's My Life framework. Year after year it has been a showcase for innovative programs and practices where youth, alumni, and child welfare professionals engage with and learn from each other. In fact, a unique aspect of the conference is the involvement of youth and alumni in the building of the program which reflects the strengths-based and youth-driven values that guide our work. According to April Curtis, a Youth Leadership Specialist at the Uhlich Children's Advantage Network, the involvement of youth in all aspects of the conference sets it apart from the others. "The way this conference values the experience of young people and includes us in the planning and presentation of workshops and exhibits-in the forefront and behind the scene-sets the tone," she said. "It's truly an honor to have people trust us and listen to us, but the fact is, young people are the ones who know what's going on with them."

This year, there will be a spotlight on education, employment, and mental health - all areas of particular concern to youth transitioning out of care. New to the event are workshops on the creative arts where artists have been invited to share their passion for creative expression from poetry to photography with youth and young adults.

The It's My Life Conference will be located at the Bell Harbor Conference Center located on Seattle's beautiful waterfront. Registration begins the week of August 8. Please visit www.casey.org to get the link to registration. Registration for adults is $200 and for youth and chaperones it is $125. The conference hotel is the Marriott Waterfront Hotel. The conference rate is $169 + tax. Call 1-800-455-8254 for reservations - be sure to say you are attending It's My Life to get the conference rate.