Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program® is a competitive national internship for students and recent graduates with lived experience in foster care who are interested in federal policy and advocacy. Participants write a federal child welfare policy report and are placed in the Washington, D.C. legislative offices of Members of the U.S. Congress.
Who Can Apply
- Strong writing, grammar, and research skills.
- Interest in improving federal child welfare policy.
- At least 12 consecutive months or 20 total months in U.S. foster care, with a willingness to share experiences.
- Completion of at least four semesters at an accredited institution by May 25, 2026.
- Currently pursuing a degree or have attained one from an accredited institution within the past year (degree by May 25, 2025).
- Full participation in the program, including remote onboarding (Feb 2nd – May 22, 2026) approx. 10–15 hrs/month and in-person attendance in D.C. (May 25 – July 10, 2026), including evenings and weekends. Late arrivals or early departures are not permitted.
Deadline
- November 02, 2025
Helpful Tips
- FYI is offering info sessions to allow prospective applicants to learn more about the internship program. You can RSVP here for the information session of your choice on the following dates:
- If you have known conflicts with the program date program dates it’s encouraged that you apply the following year.
- Ask your academic advisor to determine if you are eligible to receive academic credit for the FYI Program.
- If you have questions after carefully reviewing the application and the information available on CCAI’s website, you can contact Lisette DuFore Benz at lisette@ccainstitute.org.
