National Foster Youth Institute: Uplifting Lived Experience to Address the Impact of ACEs

As NFYI’s Los Angeles Director, Pip Keogh, supports and trains current and former foster youth ages 18 to 30 to transform the Los Angeles County child welfare system into a community of support centered on child well-being and lived experiences. He works to build coalitions with community partners and decision-makers to support NFYI’s efforts to uplift foster youth voices, create space for those voices to be heard and understood, and inform change. Before joining NFYI, Pip worked with the UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence, training Los Angeles County professionals and communities in trauma-informed care, and worked to advance ACEs screening and response in the State of California.

In March 2024, Mehaa Martin shared the stage with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a one-on-one fireside chat to talk about issues impacting the foster youth community in Los Angeles and beyond. She was a member of 2024 Congressional Leadership Academy and participated in NFYI's Shadow Day in Washington D.C., where she built on the connections she made with members of Congress to advocate for policy change at the federal level. She was a 2024 Fellow of the Horizons Center for Justice & Economic Advancement summit hosted in Washington D.C., building professional networks and using lived experience to inform change within the justice system. She has 12 years of experience in community outreach and works with diverse populations -- through a person-centered approach -- including the uniquely abled, unhoused, justice-involved, and child welfare-involved youth.

Elyzabeth Andersen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Education at California State University, Monterey Bay. She is a member of the Reproductive Health Equity Project’s Youth Advisory Board. She is passionate about removing systemic barriers to ensure equitable access to the education and health care systems, especially among underserved and underrepresented communities. She hopes to improve her understanding of the legislative process, learn strategies to influence change, and develop connections that can advance advocacy efforts to provide support for foster youth.

Atiya O’Steen is currently studying Child Development at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She is driven by a passion for helping young children and young adults who are at risk of failure within the child welfare system. Atiya's personal experiences have shaped her mission. She’s faced challenges within the system since she was 2 years old. This early encounter with adversity ignited her commitment to making a difference for children and adults who are often overlooked, ensuring they have the support and resources they need to thrive.

Abigail Rubtsova is currently a fourth-year student at UCLA majoring in Political Science and Anthropology. Driven by her personal experience of 11 years in the foster care system, Abigail has taken on many advocacy roles for youth justice and children’s welfare. She has dedicated herself to conducting research and rectifying the care system through policy improvement and implementation, as well as partnering with nonprofits to provide resources and support to underserved communities and youth. A current employee of the Pritzker Center at UCLA, and a member of NFYI and California Youth Connection, Abigail spends most of her time working with current and former foster youth, discovering new ways to advocate for justice.