Interview Write Up

Interview with Kristina Gelardi
Prepared By: Bryan Nichol

The interview went very well. We interviewed a worker at California Youth Connection, her name was Kristina Gelardi. She is the Northern Region Policy Coordinator. She deals with the youth all over the state. She travels to the thirty- three different chapters over the United States. Kristina has worked in the San Francisco state office for three years and has been a mentor to the youth for five years. California Youth Connection is a non- profit organization. The organization identifies all the problems with the foster youth and how to fix them. The youth members range from age 14 to 24 years old. There are 30 chapters across the state. 4,000 youth age out of the system each year. There are only 1400 beds. 24000 youth emancipated each year. Each youth has their own individual living plan. She believes that family is by community, not by blood.
I was received very warmly in the beginning. She was glad that I was able to travel up all the way to San Francisco to conduct the interview. Kristina’s hospitality was very nice, when we walked in the room to start the interview, before we sat down she offered me water. I was very impressed with her professionalism. She was very kind to me and welcomed me to email or call her again at any time if I needed more information on the topic.
I learned that 24000 youth are emancipated each year. There are grants and scholarships available for the foster youth. Kristina supports 22 out of 30 chapters. I learned that it is hard for the youth to go out of state. I learned that foster youth get priority for year around housing in college.
Things I learned that I did not expect to learn were, Kristina helps foster youth prepare for hearings, she also runs the chapter meetings. She runs an activity at the chapter meetings. She becomes close with some of the youth and knows them a personal basis. Most of the youth do not like to openly talk about their situations to people. After the age of 21, you can become a supporter or a mentor to the youth.
My impressions on the interview were shocking. I didn’t expect to hear what Kristina told me about foster youth and what they go through a daily basis. I was also shocked when she told me about what her job has her doing on a daily to weekly basis. She told me, sometimes she has to drive across the state in a day to be at a chapter meeting and conduct an activity. Overall, I was impressed in how she and her organization are trying to improve the lives of foster youth across not only the state, but the nation as well.