Stronger Together: SWAN and IL Collaborate to Support Older Youth

By Shari McConnell, SWAN Regional Technical Assistant

PAE Coordinator Katie Juliana and Technical Assistants Rachel Beals and April Cox provide permanency resources and support to attendees of the 2026 IL Youth Retreat, held July 27-31 at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Campus.

Youth preparing to transition from foster care to adulthood need both practical skills and lasting, supportive relationships. Through ongoing collaboration, SWAN and Pennsylvania’s Independent Living (IL) Program are helping older youth access the full range of services and connections available to them.

At the statewide level, SWAN participates in the annual IL Youth Retreat, the Statewide Youth Advisory Board committee and the Older Youth Continuous Improvement committee. SWAN and IL representatives also meet every other month to share updates and coordinate their work. Regional networking groups meet twice a year, providing additional opportunities to discuss emerging needs, exchange ideas and identify effective ways to support older youth.

SWAN has also joined regional Youth Advisory Board meetings to provide information about adoption, permanent legal custodianship and other SWAN services. Additional collaborative efforts have focused on helping professionals identify permanency resources for older youth. SWAN and the Child Welfare Resource Center also revised the SWAN section of the IL Pre‑Site Visit Questionnaire, while the SWAN Toolkit added an IL section featuring program information, the IL bulletin and other resources.

These statewide relationships have led to meaningful local partnerships. In Allegheny County, SWAN regional technical assistants (RTAs) and a division manager have worked with the 412 Youth Zone, participating in youth events, holding one-on-one conversations and offering monthly office hours where youth and staff can learn more about SWAN services.

In Westmoreland County, the SWAN RTA has attended IL group meetings to educate youth and staff about available services. At two meetings, SWAN affiliate agencies led interactive stations demonstrating child preparation and child-specific recruitment activities. Youth reported enjoying the experience and participating affiliates also provided positive feedback.

Another partnership brings together Philadelphia DHS, the Achieving Independence Center, Community Umbrella Agencies and SWAN. The group works to strengthen older youths’ understanding of permanency and increase appropriate SWAN referrals. RTAs conduct searches for eligible youth, participate in events, speak directly with young people about SWAN services and follow up with their assigned teams when interest is expressed. They also educate AIC practice coaches and have developed a process to help them recommend SWAN referrals.

Together, these efforts are strengthening relationships between the SWAN and IL systems and connecting older youth with permanency services. The collaboration has contributed to increased use of SWAN services—particularly child preparation—and fewer service withdrawals. Most importantly, it helps ensure that older youth develop both the skills and the lifelong connections they need to thrive in adulthood.

Shari is a SWAN regional technical assistant with the SWAN prime contract.  A graduate of Saint Francis University, Shari has 24 years of experience in child welfare, specifically in foster care and adoption. Prior to her current position at SWAN, Shari was a Permanency Director at an affiliate agency for over 13 years. She also has experience providing the SWAN units of service at two affiliate agencies.