Open Your

Doors

Open Your Doors
Foster Initiatives

Open Your Doors (OYD) is a group of caring individuals that came together to engage the entertainment industry in efforts to positively impact children in the foster care system in California. We do not operate as a non- profit organization, we are rather a campaign to raise awareness and engagement for foster children.  Given that the entertainment industry is the heartbeat of Los Angeles, we choose to focus on gaining the support of this particular private sector. Our goal is to pilot a successful program in Los Angeles that could potentially be replicated across the country, setting a precedent for national engagement and support.

THE WHY

In the United States, there are roughly 400,000 children in foster care, with 60,000 in California and around 33,000 in Los Angeles county alone. As the heartbeat of Los Angeles, the entertainment community has the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families in the Los Angeles County child welfare system.

Focus Areas

  • Employment/Post-Secondary Pursuits

  • Entertainment Collaborative

  • Fostering

  • Mentorship

Through acts of change like becoming a Resource Parent, creating a

relationship with a child that can change the trajectory of their future or

providing access to internships or employment opportunities for a young

adult in care, there’s space for your company in this collaborative.

EARLY INITIATIVES 

Requesting Human Resources at each company extend their current benefits provided to adoptive or biological parents, such as parental leave, to also include Resource Parents. Host a series of lunch and learns at entertainment workplaces to engage employees in the OYD efforts. The first was hosted by the NFL in August 2023.

LONG-TERM INITIATIVES 

CURRENT WORK 

OYD partnered with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to create the first ever Entertainment Collaborative that connects children in care to the creative engine that exists in the entertainment community, opening exciting and endless possibilities. 

Entertainment partners are considering the production of a documentary that focuses on young adults who are transitioning out of care and spotlights the mentors who played pivotal roles in their lives, ultimately helping these children reach their dreams.

In May of 2024, in collaboration with DCFS and the Seed School Los Angeles, we will launch the first Open Your Doors Dream Week. The entertainment career week offers identified youth in care with a practical understanding of the the ins and out of working in the entertainment community and provides them with a mentor to help navigate their future careers in entertainment. 

Current LA County Partners 

Department of Children and Family Service

The Justice Care and Opportunities Division

Chief Executive Office