Project Details

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education (the Department), Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), Division of Policy, Research, and Evaluation (PRE)

Agency Type: Federal

Services: Strategic Communications

Client Goals

The overarching goal of the project was to identify opportunities to improve college and career outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care by connecting them with career and technical education.

Safal Approach

Safal researched and drafted a comprehensive literature review focused on career and postsecondary and employment outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care. After creating the draft review, we facilitated a stakeholder convening of experts with differing perspectives to get to the heart of the salient issues and challenges in improving the outcomes for youth in foster care answering the essential question: What barriers, unique needs, and options do youth in foster care experience? Armed with the findings from the convening, Safal developed two potential messaging strategies to youth transitioning out of foster care aimed at connecting them with relevant career and technical education opportunities.

This project is one example of how Safal’s capabilities in organizing and facilitating a convening of experts. We follow an intentional and iterative process to research, vet, and recruit convening participants. Safal also conducted an in-depth literature review to ensure that the convening was focused on the most salient issues and challenges. On the day of the convening, Safal received feedback from OCTAE staff that the facilitation and discussion was ‘Excellent’!