Indiana Foster Youth to Receive National Award

Indiana foster youth Joshua Christian has been recognized for his advocacy by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Christian is a sophomore at Marian University, a member of the Indiana Youth Advisory Board and a Jim Casey Young Fellow. He is one of 12 recipients of the 2018 Adoption Excellence Award who will be honored in Washington, D.C. on November 13 during National Adoption Month.

Christian was nominated for the national award by Indiana Connected By 25 CEO Brent Kent.

“Joshua has shown extraordinary leadership in our programs and as an advocate for improved outcomes for foster children,” says Indiana Connected By 25 CEO Brent Kent. “As a foster youth, he knows first-hand the challenges these young people face, and he uses his own lived experiences to fight for change in Indiana’s child welfare system.”

Last month, Christian and Kent presented a recommendation to the state’s Commission for Improving the Status of Children on the need to expand foster care and after-care services. Their recommendation was approved unanimously and will now be forwarded to the Indiana General Assembly.

The Adoption Excellence Awards program was started in 1997 to recognize outstanding accomplishments in achieving permanency for America’s children waiting in foster care.