As many as 15,000 children are in Pennsylvania's foster care system at any given time, and a disproportionate number are often African-American. How can existing family relationships be better resourced and supported? And how can society better help kids transition from foster care to adulthood?
Today's guests weigh in, including:
- Scott Hollander, executive director at KidsVoice;
- Jennifer Pokempner, child welfare policy director at the Juvenile Law Center;
- Dr. David Brock, vice president of FACE department with A Second Chance; and
- Anne Schlegel, Children, Youth and Families assistant deputy director, who heads up fostering and adoption for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.
Elsewhere in the program, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is in the early stages of developing new diversity policies and strategies that involve everything from administrative changes to the literature displayed in the lobby. Allegra Battle reports for 90.5 WESA.
And Amazon announced Tuesday morning that Long Island City, N.Y. and northern Virginia would split the spoils of the retail giant's second North American headquarters. The bidding process for 50,000 jobs and myriad resources began last year with a nationwide call and was culled in January to 20 large and mid-sized metropolitan contenders, including Pittsburgh.
Last month, 90.5 WESA asked Mayor Bill Peduto what would happen if the Steel City ultimately lost out: "We just move on. We take the information that we compiled... to be able to compete (for) hundreds of other companies."
Neither city nor state leaders have released the contents of the bid, despite court orders to do so.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators join veteran journalist Kevin Gavin, taking an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here.
