On the morning of Friday, May 30, 2025, a quiet energy filled the Sobrato Center for Nonprofits in San Jose as leaders from the Santa Clara County child welfare system came together for the inaugural Foster Care Awareness Month Summit. The gathering, hosted by Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, Dependency Advocacy Center, Law Foundation’s Children & Youth Program, Bill Wilson Center, Pivotal, and Unity Care, was more than just a discussion—it was a call to action.
Held during Foster Care Awareness Month, the summit aimed to reflect on the state of the county’s child welfare system and consider a new, collective vision for how to better serve youth and families. Moderator Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, opened the day with urgency and hope. “We must come together as a community of experts…and do whatever it takes to change the story in Santa Clara County,” Ferrer said. “We must work in a system in which all children and families thrive.”
The heart of the event was a thoughtful panel discussion featuring Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong, Alexis Moody, Directing Attorney at the Law Foundation’s Children & Youth Program, and Katie Joh, CEO of Dependency Advocacy Center. Panelists explored how systems could evolve to prioritize not only child safety but also family preservation—two goals that, as many emphasized, should not be at odds.
“My great hope is that we in this system can find a balance between protecting children and ensuring safety, while preventing the need for intervention,” said Alexis Moody. “Both things can be true at the same time.”
Echoing this sentiment, Katie Joh emphasized the need to see family unity as fundamental to safety itself. “When we think about child safety, when we think about family preservation, those two things should be the same,” she said. “Children are best in families. Children are best in communities. They’re our children and these are our families.”
The event also honored the many professionals and advocates who consistently show up for foster youth. Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong, acknowledged the care and commitment in the room: “This is the level of care, this is the consistency that all of our children, all of our families need. So it gives me hope… There’s no shortage of brain power of people who are actively thinking about this.”
In closing, Supervisor Sylvia Arenas offered a message rooted in both determination and heart. “Politically, we are charged. We are ready, and all we need is your partnership and your collaboration… Now it’s time for action—but that action has to be based in love.”
As the summit concluded, the shared feeling was clear: there is much work to be done—but it can be done together. With aligned vision, unwavering compassion, and a community committed to doing better, Santa Clara County has taken a meaningful step toward improving outcomes for system impacted children and families.
2025 Foster Care Awareness Month Report
