1.5 Youth Partnerships Not Platitudes: Reducing Youth Homelessness
Ending youth homelessness for 4.2 million young adults is possible—but it requires
deep partnerships, youth leadership, and long-term commitment. Over the past decade, Washington State has built a nation-leading approach to youth homelessness prevention and response, demonstrating that broad systems change is possible. While Washington has made significant progress—including reducing youth homelessness by 40%—the work is far from over. In this session, we’ll hear from youth leaders, former public officials, and advocates who have been on the frontlines of this effort—what’s worked, where challenges remain, and how we sustain momentum. Through real stories and lessons learned, this discussion will provide funders and changemakers with concrete strategies to drive lasting impact and ensure every young person has a safe and stable place to call home.
Click for more.
Kim Justice (she/her) is the Director of Public Policy at Partners for Our Children (P4C), a research and policy center based at the University of Washington School of Social Work. P4C is dedicated to addressing inequities and fostering inter-generational family well-being.
With over 20 years of experience in public policy development, legislative advocacy, and executive leadership, Kim has driven transformative change across Washington State. Before joining P4C, she was the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection at the Washington State Department of Commerce, where she led the office for nine years.
Kim has championed numerous initiatives aimed at advancing equity and opportunity for all Washingtonians. Her work spans key areas such as healthcare access, foster care transformation, progressive revenue, mortgage lending protections, housing access, and economic support programs.
Earlier in her career, Kim served as Senior Budget Analyst at the Washington State Budget & Policy Center, Policy Advisor for the Washington State House of Representatives, and Community Organizer and Lobbyist for the Statewide Poverty Action Network. She also served as Vice President on the board of The Mockingbird Society, a nationally recognized youth advocacy organization.
Click for more.
Farid Rasuli (he/him) is an advocate for youth-driven systemic change and an Investment Operations Analyst at Inatai Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on equity and racial justice.
Originally from Afghanistan, Farid resettled in the Pacific Northwest in 2017 as an unaccompanied refugee minor and entered the foster care system. He quickly became involved with The Mockingbird Society, a nonprofit transforming foster care and youth homelessness through policy advocacy and systems change. As a Senior Network Representative, he led trainings for professionals, contributed to the Mockingbird Times publication, and collaborated on legislative reforms, including efforts to end the detention of youth for status offenses. Later, as a Program & Data Coordinator, he supported The Report Card, a statewide survey amplifying the voices of young adults with foster care experience, by conducting data analysis, data visualization, and presenting key findings to inform policy recommendations.
Farid earned his B.A. in Business Economics from Seattle University in 2023, deepening his expertise in finance, policy analysis, and strategic decision-making.
At Inatai Foundation, he supports the foundation’s investment operations by managing cash flows, executing trades, reconciling transactions, and ensuring accurate performance reporting to optimize portfolio oversight and decision-making. He is also a key member of Inatai’s PRI task force, leading the infrastructure and financial management of Program-Related Investments (PRIs).
With a background bridging grassroots advocacy and investment strategy, Farid brings a unique perspective on how philanthropy can drive systemic change while prioritizing youth leadership and community empowerment.
Click for more.
Jim Theofelis has been serving the children, youth, and families in Washington state for over 40 years. He began his career working as an outreach worker and shelter staff for young people experiencing homelessness. He has worked in multiple residential and outpatient treatment centers and was the clinical director at the Children’s Institute for Learning Differences (CHILD), YouthCare and the Mental Health Clinic in King County Juvenile Detention. He has operated a private practice (Clinical and Consultative Services) since 1987 where he works with children, youth and families as well as providing clinical and program consultation to other professionals and organizations. In 1999 he authored and advocated for the HOPE Act legislation which was passed by the Washington legislature in 1999 which besides establishing innovative services and for the first time the established a legislative commitment to serving young people experiencing homelessness. In 2001 Jim founded The Mockingbird Society a nationally recognized non-profit organization that sponsors the Mockingbird Youth Network and the internationally replicated Mockingbird Family Model, an innovative approach to delivering foster care now operating in Washington, several other states and countries. Jim has held a leadership role in the passage of over 40 pieces of legislation including Extended Foster Care which has become a national model and federal legislation and entitlement for young people across the nation, providing states that implement Extended Foster a federal match.. In 2017 Jim was the inaugural executive director for A Way Home Washington which sponsors the Anchor Community Initiative a collective impact project implementing the Built For Zero model designed to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness across Washington state. In 2021 Jim founded NorthStar Advocates (www.northstaradvocates.org) which continues his mission-driven work of supporting and strengthening young people, families and communities as a strategy to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness. NorthStar Advocates focuses on the intersection of homelessness and behavioral health. Jim is the Chair of the state Office of Homeless Youth Advisory Board. All of Jim’s work has centered on elevating the voice and experience of young people with lived experience and the focus on the impact and healing from major trauma. Jim is a state licensed mental health counselor and a certified chemical dependency counselor in Washington state. He is the proud recipient of the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award and the national Jefferson Award for public service. Jim is married and has two adult children and one grandchild.
Click for more.
Tricia Raikes is a philanthropist, advocate, and executive dedicated to advancing racial justice and equity. She collaborates with communities, government, and business leaders to tackle systemic challenges by investing in leaders with lived expertise, field experience, and strategic advocacy.
As co-founder of the Raikes Foundation alongside her husband, Jeff, she focuses on transforming youth-serving systems to promote healthy life outcomes and increase agency for young people.
Tricia is a former leader of Creative Services at Microsoft and currently serves on several boards, including the Seattle Mariners, Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, and the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska.
Her work on youth homelessness earned her recognition as a White House Champion of Change by President Obama.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
The Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS) is a global interdisciplinary research center and publisher of the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR). Stanford PACS develops and shares knowledge to improve philanthropy, strengthen civil society, and address societal challenges. By creating a shared space for scholars, students, and practitioners, Stanford PACS informs policy and social innovation, philanthropic investment, and nonprofit practice.