New York

Gwendolyn Golding

She/Her/Hers

Hello everyone! My name is Gwendolyn Golding and I live in upstate New York. I am currently working as a call center customer service representative for Spectrum. I also attend the University at Albany where I major in English and double minor in business and education. My goal is to travel and teach around the world before settling down to open my business.

I joined the CARES project because I believe that the foster care system is broken and I want to be a part of the group that enforces change. The system loses focus on an individual as they get closer to aging out of care. The CARES project is important for older youth transitioning out of foster care because it helps to set them up for the real world. We are working on taking away so many of the challenges that come with receiving help as an older youth that would help them flow easier into adulting. When I am not at school or working, you can find me in the gym or binge watching the greatest shows.

#CARES4Power

Follow us on Instagram to learn more about our work, the CARES Ambassadors, and the policies we are building to advance change for all transition age youth.

Join us on October 29 & 30! Tune into the "Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults" discussion series, where we’ll explore innovative mental health and housing policies designed for and with young adults. Connect with national and local leaders and CARES Ambassadors to help build a brighter future. Register today! Link in bio. #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

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Join us on October 29 & 30! Tune into the "Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults" discussion series, where we’ll explore innovative mental health and housing policies designed for and with young adults. Connect with national and local leaders and CARES Ambassadors to help build a brighter future. Register today! Link in bio. #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

Join us for a transformative discussion on youth-centered mental health and well-being policies. Discover innovative strategies co-created with young people, for young people. Engage with youth, national, and local leaders as we reimagine a future that truly supports, affirms, and uplifts young adults. Link in bio! #CARES4Power #MentalHealth #HousingSupport

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Join us for a transformative discussion on youth-centered mental health and well-being policies. Discover innovative strategies co-created with young people, for young people. Engage with youth, national, and local leaders as we reimagine a future that truly supports, affirms, and uplifts young adults. Link in bio! #CARES4Power #MentalHealth #HousingSupport

Learn why empowering brown and Black youth through community building and mentorship is crucial. Los Angeles CARES Ambassador Santos shares how these spaces help young people thrive, heal, and grow, shaping a stronger, more resilient future.
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#CARES #CARES4Power #NationalPolicyAgenda #JuvenileJustice #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #FosterYouth #Policy #Youth #TAY #Community #Mentorship

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Learn why empowering brown and Black youth through community building and mentorship is crucial. Los Angeles CARES Ambassador Santos shares how these spaces help young people thrive, heal, and grow, shaping a stronger, more resilient future. . . . . #CARES #CARES4Power #NationalPolicyAgenda #JuvenileJustice #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #FosterYouth #Policy #Youth #TAY #Community #Mentorship

Damage Imagery in the U.S. child welfare system often highlights the visible wounds, but it’s the invisible scars of systemic neglect that demand our urgent attention and reform.
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#classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #Equity #DamageImagery #ChildWelfare

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Damage Imagery in the U.S. child welfare system often highlights the visible wounds, but it’s the invisible scars of systemic neglect that demand our urgent attention and reform. . . . . #classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #Equity #DamageImagery #ChildWelfare

Though we strive not to practice "color-blind" ideology, evidence shows that child welfare decision-makers often judge parents of color more harshly--one result being more children being removed from their families. Calls for systemic change to amend these barriers are growing at a rapid pace. In 2021, the "blind removals" program in Nassau County (New York) was created to address racial bias in decisions regarding the removal of a child from their caretakers. California – which has the most disproportionate share of Black children in foster care of any state in the nation, according to the National Center on Juvenile Justice – is considering a bill that would create blind removal pilot projects in several counties. @childcarenassau
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#Classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #CARES4Power #Equity #Colorblind #ColorBlindRacialIdeology #ChildWelfare

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Though we strive not to practice "color-blind" ideology, evidence shows that child welfare decision-makers often judge parents of color more harshly--one result being more children being removed from their families. Calls for systemic change to amend these barriers are growing at a rapid pace. In 2021, the "blind removals" program in Nassau County (New York) was created to address racial bias in decisions regarding the removal of a child from their caretakers. California – which has the most disproportionate share of Black children in foster care of any state in the nation, according to the National Center on Juvenile Justice – is considering a bill that would create blind removal pilot projects in several counties. @childcarenassau . . . . #Classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #CARES4Power #Equity #Colorblind #ColorBlindRacialIdeology #ChildWelfare

See how Atlanta CARES Ambassador Aisha feels about being an ambassador for the past three years and her work on the National Policy Agenda featured in our Linktree!

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#CARES #CARES4Power #NationalPolicyAgenda #CARESNationalPolicyAgenda #FosterYouth #Policy #Youth #YoungPeople #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth

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See how Atlanta CARES Ambassador Aisha feels about being an ambassador for the past three years and her work on the National Policy Agenda featured in our Linktree! . . . . #CARES #CARES4Power #NationalPolicyAgenda #CARESNationalPolicyAgenda #FosterYouth #Policy #Youth #YoungPeople #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth

The Child Welfare League of America defines cultural competence as the ability of individuals and systems to respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and faiths or religions in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, tribes, and communities, and protects and preserves the dignity of each.
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#Classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #Equity #CulturalCompetence #ChildWelfare

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The Child Welfare League of America defines cultural competence as the ability of individuals and systems to respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and faiths or religions in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, tribes, and communities, and protects and preserves the dignity of each. . . . . #Classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #Equity #CulturalCompetence #ChildWelfare