iFoster Futures

Rochelle Trochtenberg – Former California Foster Care Ombudsperson in Sacramento, Calif. is the first former foster youth to be appointed to serve in this role. She is responsible for educating foster youth and caregivers about their rights, investigating complaints related to the care, placement, and services of youth in foster care, and providing policy recommendations on improving California’s child welfare system. Rochelle believes that programs, policy, and systems function more effectively when decisions are informed and connected to the real-life experiences and voices of those who receive or depend on those services. 0:00 - 2:33 Program intro and guest set up by co-hosts Serita Cox and Keira Green. 2:33 Keira welcomes Rochelle and asks her about what she does: “Can you explain your Ombudsperson role here in California?” 4:45 Keira follows up with a question about Rochelle’s vision for youth growing up in foster care. 5:40 Serita transitions the conversation to working with Rochelle in 2020 on bridging the digital divide for foster youth; making tech access a reality. She notes that “iFoster can get devices in the hands of our kids, it doesn’t matter if the child welfare system says they don’t have the right to them. How did you make this happen when many in the system say it’s bad to give foster youth tech – it’s bad for their own safety or it’s a nice to have not a need to have?” 9:10 Serita expands on the discussion around tech for foster youth and the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. 9:56 Keira brings some personal context to the critical need for foster youth to have tech resources. 11:05 Rochelle discusses iFoster’s important role in educating caregivers and youth on how to use technology safely and effectively, and how to stay connected and get the resources they need. 12:45 Keira asks Rochelle to tell us more about how she advocates and gets changes made. “How do you do it? What skills do you use?” 17:05 Keira asks Rochelle to take us back – “you’re from LA County like me. You grew up in group homes, they labelled you ‘severely emotionally disturbed’ and you aged out of care to homelessness. Yet none of that stopped you – Associates Degree, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work. How did you do it?” 21:50 Serita asks Rochelle to dive deeper into how she persevered through the many setbacks she faced along the way to her role as Ombudsman. 24:15 Serita winds down the podcast with an emphasis on reaching out to people for support, believe in yourself, and walk your own path – Rochelle concurs, talks about doing just that and how important it was for her to go from aging out to the State Ombudsperson’s Office.

Show Notes

In this episode, our hosts Serita Cox and Keira Green interview Rochelle Trochtenberg – Former California Foster Care Ombudsperson in Sacramento, Calif. is the first former foster youth to be appointed to serve in this role. She is responsible for educating foster youth and caregivers about their rights, investigating complaints related to the care, placement, and services of youth in foster care, and providing policy recommendations on improving California’s child welfare system. The conversation covers:
  • What Rochelle’s role is as the Ombudsperson here in California. 
  • Rochelle’s vision for youth growing up in foster care.
  • Rochelle and Serita talk about bridging the digital divide, together.
  • Rochelle talks about tech and the Foster Youth Bill of Rights.
  • Keira adds personal context to foster youth having technology.
  • Rochelle expands on how she advocates and gets changes made.
  • How Rochelle persevered through myriad of setbacks to where she is now.
  • Final thoughts from Serita, Keira and Rochelle.

What is iFoster Futures?

iFoster Futures is a series of informal interviews designed to help youth in foster care explore a wide variety of career paths. Interviewees share insights on their career path, lessons and skills that can be achieved and career opportunities that can be pursued on that path.