The MIT Media Lab's Affective Computing group and Foster America are co-organizing an innovative effort that centers on and supports youth and families impacted by the child welfare system. 

This forum will bring together lived experts, technologists, funders, and child welfare leaders to explore how technology might be designed to support youth and family wellbeing. The forum will begin by discussing the current state of the child welfare system, migrating to a conversation on the challenges and potentials in designing technology to meet youth and family needs.

In the event, lived experts will showcase outcomes from a series of youth and family co-design workshops that were held across the United States (New York, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, Colorado) and discuss how key stakeholders can act on these ideas to enable real-world, positive change.

Agenda

1:30 - 3 pm: Keynote + Panel

Keynote opening talkon the intersection of technology, innovation, and transformative systems change for wellbeing featuring: Rosalind Picard, Director of Affective Computing Research at the MIT Media Lab and Marie Zemler Wu, Executive Director of Foster America.

Panel discussion featuring: Anthony Barrows, Managing Partner and Founder, Center for Behavioral Design and Social Justice; Ila Kumar Research Assistant and PhD student, Affective Computing group at MIT Media Lab; Takkeem Morgan, Founder of Mosaic ParentHub and Co-Founder of LEAD; Beth Ryan, Executive Director and Founder, Stepping Forward LA; and Mitchel Resnick, LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab.

3:00 - 4:30 pm: Co-design Workshop Showcase

Lived experts will showcase outcomes from a series of youth and family co-design workshops that were held across the United States (New York, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, Colorado) and discuss how key stakeholders can act on these ideas to enable real-world, positive change.

4:30 - 5:30 pm: Poster Session + Reception

In this interactive session, presenters will be available for questions and conversation on their projects and attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy refreshments, meet one another, and discuss the day.

This forum is funded by Foster America and co-hosted by the MIT Media Lab's Affective Computing research group and Foster America.