As National Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, this episode of Fostering Change focuses on something deeply important: what happens when organizations stop working in silos and start working together for young people.
This week, Rob Scheer is joined by two Los Angeles-based leaders making a meaningful impact in the lives of youth connected to foster care: Beth Ryan, Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, and Jorie Das, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles.
Together, their organizations are helping young people navigate some of the most difficult transitions imaginable — aging out of foster care, finding stability, building community, and creating long-term support systems rooted in consistency and trust.
Beth Ryan’s work through Stepping Forward LA focuses on youth transitioning out of foster care, with programs centered around mentorship, housing support, internships, workforce readiness, and a first-of-its-kind app designed by and for foster youth.
Jorie Das leads Friends of the Children Los Angeles, which provides long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers through a unique 12+ year commitment model focused on stability, prevention, and long-term success.
Throughout the conversation, Rob, Beth, and Jorie explore how collaboration between nonprofits can strengthen outcomes for youth — and why consistent relationships remain one of the most powerful tools for healing and success.
Episode Highlights
Why aging out of foster care remains one of the biggest challenges facing young adults
How mentorship and long-term relationships improve outcomes for youth
The importance of nonprofit collaboration instead of competition
How Los Angeles reflects both the scale of the foster care crisis and the opportunity for innovation
Why Foster Care Awareness Month must lead to meaningful action and engagement
About the Guests
Beth Ryan is the Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, a nonprofit supporting youth aging out of foster care through mentorship, housing support, workforce development, and community-based solutions. As the organization approaches its 10-year anniversary, Stepping Forward LA continues expanding its impact across Los Angeles.
Jorie Das is the Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles, an organization providing long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded across Los Angeles County, helping youth and caregivers through a prevention-focused model built on consistency and trust.
Key Questions from This Episode
What prompted the creation of Stepping Forward LA and Friends of the Children Los Angeles?
What are the biggest challenges youth face when aging out of foster care?
Why does long-term mentorship matter so much?
How can nonprofits collaborate more effectively to support youth?
What role do community, housing, and workforce development play in long-term stability?
How can people move beyond awareness and take meaningful action?
Connect with the Guests
Stepping Forward LA
🌐 Website: Stepping Forward LA
📸 Instagram: @steppingforwardla
Friends of the Children Los Angeles
🌐 Website: Friends of the Children Los Angeles
📸 Instagram: @friendsla
Closing Thought
Real change rarely happens alone.
This conversation is a reminder that when organizations, mentors, communities, and advocates work together, young people experience something powerful: consistency, connection, and the belief that they are not navigating life alone.
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