Foster Youth & Mental Health Access - With Angelina Medina

Providers often see a foster youth who survived and think they're resilient, strong, and got-it-handled. But surviving doesn't always mean thriving. And having one’s basic needs met doesn't mean all their needs are met.Angelina Medina, Regional Lead at iFoster, discusses the critical gap between survival and healing for foster youth. Resources exist, but young people often don't learn about them until adulthood when they're struggling. Now, Angelina is working to change that.What You'll Learn: Why the "basic needs checklist" fails foster youth’s mental health. Concrete practices to build trust: go slow, ask permission, don't assume resilience. How lived experience creates peer connections traditional models miss. Why mental health is a policy issue and what providers can do now.Guest Bio: Angelina Medina is a Regional Lead at iFoster, where she provides support to current and former foster youth and leads groups of foster youth as they gain employment skills. Having entered the foster care system at age six, Angelina completed iFoster's internship program and is committed to utilizing her lived experience to aid others navigating similar challenges. She graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in environmental occupational health and has been advocating for foster youth since joining iFoster at age 21. Her lived experience informs her work connecting foster youth with the resources they need, from mental health and wellness support to education and employment opportunities. About iFoster: iFoster is a national nonprofit employing former foster youth to bridge the resource gap. Medical professionals, caregivers, and anyone supporting foster youth can access their free resources at iFoster.orgMental health is a policy issue. Who gets resources and what those resources are shapes whether foster youth can heal or just get by.Chapters: 0:00 Introduction0:55 Angelina's Background & iFoster's Mission3:17 What is iFoster? Services & Resources5:58 The Gap: When Basic Needs Aren't Enough7:28 Policy Changes Needed for Mental Health Access9:34 The Power of Peer Support & Lived Experience12:29 Technology & Housing Resources for Foster Youth15:59 iFoster Jobs Program: Training Peer Specialists19:28 Enhanced Care Management & Social Determinants22:06 Advocacy & Hope for Current Foster Youth25:29 Advice for Healthcare Providers: Go Slow & Ask Permission27:11 Don't Assume Resilience28:44 The Importance of Consistency in Care31:19 Mental Health is a Policy Issue32:26 How to Connect with iFosterInterview Recorded On: Jan 17, 2026🔔 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of mental health and policy. 🔗 Watch more interviews in the series: www.tntopenmind.org YouTube Tags: trauma informed care, peer support, foster youth, mental health policy, social determinants of health, iFoster, behavioral health, youth advocacy, child welfare, pediatric care, health equity, lived experience, community mental health, child psychiatry, social work, case management, transition age youth Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series on Soundwise