UNITE-LA, in partnership with the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative, convened foster youth leaders and staff from the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Youth Engagement Section (YES) for a “Measuring What Matters” training. Youth and system leaders worked together to begin identifying a shared set of metrics that will guide YES in improving outcomes for transition-age youth.

The Sept. 16 training brought together more than 15 youth and DCFS staff to explore what makes a “good metric,” focusing on three criteria: relevance to youth priorities, measurability and actionability for YES. Participants used the guiding principle of treating data as a “flashlight, not a hammer” to ensure metrics highlight opportunities for improvement rather than punish shortcomings. The group then engaged in brainstorming priority metrics within the domains of education and economic mobility. This process will directly inform a list of recommendations to be presented to DCFS Director Brandon Nichols next year, building stronger alignment between youth voices and system practices.