Dear Friends,
As the school year begins to wind down, we take a moment to reflect on a meaningful and impactful May. In honor of National Foster Care Month, we welcomed over 100 guests to campus for a powerful event focused on the housing preferences of young adults transitioning out of foster care. It was an opportunity to challenge assumptions and strengthen our community through new relationships and shared interests. Our students also shared their work at Undergraduate Research Week and at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, showcasing their dedication to becoming the next generation of child welfare professionals. As we turn the corner toward finals and graduation, we do so with a deep sense of purpose, connection and pride. Speaking of Pride, we are eagerly anticipating our Pride Talk on June 5. In celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, we hope you will join us!
In community,
The UCLA Pritzker Center Team
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| Strengthening Support Networks for LGBTQ+ Youth
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Join us for a transformative talk dedicated to enhancing support systems for LGBTQ+ youth. This event will bring together campus and community leaders to explore effective strategies and share resources aimed at fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment for young people. Whether you are a professional working with youth or a community member committed to inclusivity, your participation can make a meaningful difference in shaping a more accepting and supportive future for LGBTQ+ youth. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and empower!
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Resource Parents Navigating Two Pandemics: The Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 and Racial Injustice |
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The emergence of COVID-19 created a global health crisis and impacted children and families, disproportionately affecting minoritized communities. Simultaneously, protests and anti-racist uprisings against police violence occurred worldwide. This research explored how a group of racially diverse resource parents caring for children and youth in Los Angeles County navigated these two pandemics.
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Student researchers present at UCLA Undergraduate Research Week |
Two of our student researchers, Olivia Gilchrist and Isabella Reina, participated in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Week on May 19-23, 2025. Their presentations include research from "A Case Study of FUPY/FYI Housing Choice Vouchers in Los Angeles" and "Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences of Youth Living in the Antelope Valley," a collaboration project with ACEs-LA. Watch their presentations below!
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Students and staff read and distribute books to children at Los Angeles General Medical Center |
UCLA Pritzker Center team members posing in front of the Los Angeles General Medical Center sign.
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In the aftermath of the wildfires in January, the UCLA Pritzker Center collected chldren's books to distribute to impacted families. This month, the team delivered books to the children of first responders working at Los Angeles General Medical Center.
Thank you to everyone who contributed and donated to our book collection—your generosity is helping make a meaningful difference, one story at a time.
“Dropping off the books and seeing the children gathered around for story time was such a joy.” – Ana Rivera, Program Coordinator
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“I’ve always been passionate about supporting children and strongly believe in the power of books. I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of this donation and to help share the joy of reading with young minds!" – Valeria Morales Navarro, Student Researcher
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Research assistant engages with community members and leaders at Antelope Valley Key Stakeholders Meeting |
On May 5, our research assistant, Mia Meza, attended the fifth annual Antelope Valley Stakeholders Meeting at the Lancaster Library. Brought together by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the meeting convened community leaders and officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, among others. Conversations on historical insights, vital partnerships, and more were discussed to improve the lives of foster youth and to build a stronger future for the Antelope Valley.
"The room was filled with so many familiar faces but also new ones! It was so encouraging to see a room full of people so passionate about our community. Something I was happy to learn from this meeting was seeing the data that showed caseloads among our social workers in the Antelope Valley is dropping as well as hearing personal stories of transition-aged youth (TAY) being connected to job opportunities in the community." – Mia Meza
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UCLA Pritzker Center hosts Foster Care Housing Briefing
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Photo of Taylor Dudley, JD, Executive Director of the UCLA Pritzker Center welcoming guests to the event.
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In collaboration with Good River Partners, and with support from the UniHealth Foundation and Wells Fargo, the UCLA Pritzker Center hosted 100 guests on May 28 at the James West Alumni Center to discuss housing preferences among former foster youth.
More than 200 transition-aged foster youth were paid and surveyed about their experiences and preferences in both housing and services. The Housing Preferences Survey was designed with the intention of elevating and integrating youth voice and experience into future investments for transition-aged youth housing across the county.
Representatives from the offices of Supervisor Janice Hahn, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Assemblymember Sade Elhawary and California Senator Ben Allen were present. A new brief explores preferred locations, amenities of interest, ideal living arrangements and barriers to securing housing for former foster youth. In case you missed it, watch the event videos below!
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Photo of student team members (L-R): Emma Chen, Valeria Morales Navarro, Isabella Reina, and Olivia Gilchrist.
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Co-Director, Audra Langley, PhD, receives the 2025 UCLA Staff/Faculty Partnership Award
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Photo of Dr. Audra Langley, Co-Director of UCLA Pritzker Center and Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences.
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Each year, the UCLA Staff Assembly honors employees who have demonstrated outstanding service in supporting the University’s mission and achieving institutional goals. These awards are designed to shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent that makes UCLA a place of innovation, inspiration, and impact.
Congratulations to our Co-Director, Dr. Audra Langley, on receiving the 2025 UCLA Staff/Faculty Partnership Award! Dr. Langley's leadership, collaboration, and dedication to building bridges across disciplines serves as an inspiration to all.
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Research Assistants attend the 2025 Adolescent Brain Development Symposium |
Photo of Brittney Hun (left) and Mia Meza (right) at the Adolescent Brain Development Symposium hosted by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent.
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Research assistants and UCLA alumni, Brittney Hun ('23) and Mia Meza ('24), attended the fourth annual Adolescent Brain Development Symposium, hosted by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent. The event convened policymakers, youth-serving organizations, young people, and researchers to talk about developmental science as related to the event theme, "Building Economic Opportunity during Adolescence."
"The Adolescent Brain Development Symposium was a great experience and opportunity for Mia and I. We met so many incredible people, especially youth, who are doing the work to best support young people as they prepare to transition into adulthood. I gained valuable insight on building economic opportunity and financial independence from both a systemic and individual level." — Brittney Hun
"It was a bit nerve racking attending this event because I was surrounded by such brilliant people who are very active in the work they do. I was able to have conversations with people from LA and even all the way from Buffalo. I admired how this Symposium opened and highlighted asking questions and having thought provoking conversations because the goal was to work together and brainstorm ideas!" — Mia Meza
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Student researcher, Olivia Gilchrist, presents at the 2025 Semel Undergraduate Research Conference |
Photo of Olivia Gilchrist with her research poster at the 2025 Semel Institute Undergraduate Research Conference.
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Olivia Gilchrist, third year Psychology and Public Affairs major, and student researcher with the UCLA Pritzker Center and UCLA TIES for Families, presented her research, "Application of the Resource Dilution Model to Individuals Who Were Adopted" at the 2025 Semel Institute Research Conference.
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The Spring 2025 issue of the UCLA Blueprint Magazine is out now, featuring a powerful look at foster care and the impact of the January wildfires on children and families in L.A. County. The UCLA Pritzker Center is honored to be a part of this conversation alongside our incredible partners and colleagues in child welfare, including Dr. Shannon Thyne from UCAAN and Dr. Charity Chandler-Cole from CASA of Los Angeles. Read the full issue now at blueprint.ucla.edu.
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Corinna Kirby, 23, receives cheers from the crowd at an opening event for Los Angeles County’s Rainbow Resource Network. Photo by Jeremy Loudenback.
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Transgender and nonbinary foster youth across Los Angeles County can select clothing items from Rainbow Resource Rooms for free. The offerings represent a range of needs and some items not typically affordable or accessible — from donated designer handbags and a pastel-rich array of nail polish to toiletries such as shaving cream, razors and deodorant for young people forced out on the streets.
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© 2025 UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families. All Rights Reserved.
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