Centering Mental Health and Lived Experience in Systems Change: Cadon’s Story
Meet Cadon
Cadon is a student, advocate, and changemaker who brings lived expertise and academic insight to the forefront of policy reform. On Thursday, he spoke at a rally in Washington, D.C., hosted by Fair Share America, and shared his story with congressional representatives.
Currently pursuing a degree in psychology at the University of Utah, Cadon is committed to addressing the mental health disparities facing children, youth, and families in the child welfare system.
Born into foster care and later adopted, Cadon re-entered the foster system at age 15 after his adoption failed. He experienced profound trauma during his time in care—trauma that nearly cost him his life. It was Medicaid that gave him access to critical mental health support and ultimately helped him survive.
“Medicaid was not just a policy—it was my lifeline. Medicaid is the primary insurance for over 400,000 children, youth and young adults in the foster care system. And these attacks on Medicaid are not just attacks on foster youth like myself, but on all Americans young and old. And our lives depend on it.”
Today, Cadon channels his experience into advocacy at both local and national levels. He joined Community Catalyst’s Youth Advisory Board to focus on developing mental health initiatives and strategic policy solutions that not only support young people but challenge the systems that often fail them.
As the richest nation in the world, we must stop treating programs like Medicaid as burdens on a budget and start taxing the millionaires and billionaires that are not paying their fair share.
His work is driven by one clear goal: to ensure that those impacted by the system are not only heard—but lead the way toward lasting, meaningful change.
We are not statistics. We are not afterthoughts. We are the future—and we are here.
