Quinn M. Alston is a former foster care child who is now an author and foster care/adoption advocate.  He specializes in training and public speaking.  Quinn was employed for 12 year with the Washington DC Child and Family Services Agency.  His unique perspective on foster care issues allowed him to effectively serve as foster parent recruiter and trainer, and, as social service assistant with the Teen Life Options Unit, assisting youth in their navigational efforts through the entangled foster care system.  His employment with the agency that reared him was not accidental.  Rather, it came out of his commitment and goal to the improvement of foster care families and those yet to come into care – whomever and wherever they may be.

Quinn, who spent his entire childhood and youth, 21 years, in foster care, targets his efforts primarily to foster parents and service providers so that they may hear first hand the numerous challenges and welcomed successes of foster care.  He wants foster parents to be motivated to eliminate that which does not serve the children well while redoubling their efforts to heighten the benevolent.  Quinn also challenges administrators to put substance to their policies and to act in the best interest of the child rather than to become driven by statistics and various reports.

Quinn is author of, In the best Interest of the Child, an autobiography which is the first in a four part series.