Welcome Barbara

Barbara Langford

The Youth Transition Funders Group is delighted to announce that Barbara Langford has taken the helm as our new director. As you may know Barbara has been an invaluable coordinator of the Foster Care Work Group guiding the Connectedby 25 three-state demonstration as well as the new Well-beingframework. She knows YTFG well and is perfectly positioned to guide us to our next stage of work.

Given that much of how the foundation world operates is through our relationships and networks, we think it is important to make sure that we are transparent about our staffing. We are a network of networks and it is by enabling relationships to form that we have been able to build a stronger and stronger consensus that young people need more support so they can be “Connected by 25”. So allow me to tell you a bit about Barbara.

Her experience and expertise is going to be incredibly valuable as we move forward. As the founding partner of Mainspring Consulting, she has worked with foundations as well as state policymakers and community leaders to design effective programs and initiatives for youth, families, and communities. She has the breadth of experience needed to work on older youth issues having managed over 25 national technical assistance projects in the fields of youth development, child welfare, expanded learning opportunities, community schools, early care and education, and community development. Formerly she was the Vice President for Tools, Technical Assistance and Training at The Finance Project, and has held positions at Families USA, the Massachusetts State Women’s Commission, and the US Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. Langford holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Welcome Barbara!