In 2019, we spend more time than ever with images and information. Stories are an extremely effective way to influence behavior change...
The Center for Scholars & Storytellers, based out of UCLA, with an affiliate office in Toronto, offers actionable insights for youth-targeted storytelling.
Foster care children and the foster care system are often negatively portrayed in film and TV. Yet content such as This is Us, Instant Family and The Fosters show realistic but positive depictions of foster care and families.
Content creators have an important role to play by helping improve perceptions and letting foster children see themselves reflected in a positive light. Improved portrayals of teens, black foster children, and black foster parents are particularly needed.
Black Children
Black children are overrepresented in the foster care system
They enter care at 2x the rate of white children
They remain in foster care longer
Black babies (particularly boys) are less likely to be adopted
25% of foster care youth are teenagers, and over 20,000 teens age out of the system every year in the US without a permanent family.
These teens are more likely to :
Experience homelessness
Develop substance dependence
Get pregnant
Including foster care children in your content can allow more
on-screen diversity and complex characters.
Showing realistic but positive depictions of foster care children and families can:
Decrease perpetuation of unhelpful stereotypes
increase the pool of potential foster parents
At CSS, our focus is on how stories IMPACT kids. We look for solutions to help storytellers craft effective solutions that address critical issues.
2019 Key Priorities
Mental health
Foster care
Inclusion/diversity/equity
Gender roles for boys and men
Positive character development
For more research-based ideas on how to make impact with your content for youth across platforms, check out ourstory insightspage and contact us for expertise on social science and child development.
Please reach out to info@scholarsandstorytellers.com to learn more about our work.
Click here to learn more about our events and other news
At CSS first think thank at UCLA, Harvard's Dr. Rick Weissbourd spoke to a room of execs, writers, students and researchers about the power of storytelling. This influential group of people worked to use storytelling to move the needle on our five key priorities for 2019.
Event in Toronto
Co-Directors Kim Wilson and Colleen Russo are at Interactive Ontario's iLunch series in Toronto, speaking on Youth Targeted Storytelling with insights and a funding opportunity. Click to register; use marchSPK20 to get a 20% discount
