Location: Sacramento County, CA Number of Years in Foster Care: 5 years Interests: My interests are being an advocate for current and former foster youth, the abused, animals and people of faith. I also enjoy mentoring others who have requested help in writing a book, as I have experience being an author. I have several hobbies, a few of which are boating, reading, writing, and playing guitar and piano.
Definition of Leadership: A person who demonstrates a clear vision and focus on the mission, is a strategic planner and believes in teamwork. Great leaders help others reach their goals, make it a priority to listen to their team members and take pride in each team member’s accomplishments. A great leader is one who demonstrates integrity, courage and humility. They are flexible and embrace the inevitable changes their organization/business will face. A good leader is one who earns the respect of their team.
Goals: I would like to see many policy changes concerning foster care, especially for youth aging out and those aged 26 and above who no longer have federal or state aid options available to help them with housing and other basic needs.
Our weekly updates meetings are virtual meetings, which allows us to connect with our representatives and our supporters around the United States and beyond. The last meeting was held on Sunday, April 29th.
We are proud to announce our Former Foster Youth Workgroups. Our workgroups are designed to bring former foster youth together to brainstorm solutions and ideas to current issues and events related to the foster care community. At this point in time, we only have one workgroup with is coming together to discuss the developments of the Riverbend Center. It seems like a great project. We do have one issue that we are discussing, which is related to how the Riverbend Center is being portrayed in the media. If you are interested in being a part of this group, please click here.
Location: Sanpete County, UT Number of Years in Foster Care: 7 years Interests: I currently work in juvenile corrections as well as residential treatment.
Definition of Leadership: Empowering others through example and empathy for their current struggles.
Location: Lucas County, OH Number of Years in Foster Care: 12 years Interests: Involved in improving other systems in which the foster youth community may come into contact (homeless, juvenile justice, sex trafficking, special needs, etc.).
Definition of Leadership: Making a change from mistakes you witnessed when you were a part of it.
Goals: My goals are always to be involved as much as possible without overshadowing people.
Location: Tom Green County, TX Number of Years in Foster Care: 8 years Interests: I am a wife and mother of two and much of my time revolves around my family. I enjoy going to the movies, musicals and theater performances. I enjoy listening to music and traveling back and forth from Texas to California where I am from.
Definition of Leadership: A leader is someone who accepts the challenge whether by circumstances, vote or appointment to show others how to accomplish a mission/goal/challenge while demonstrating team work, carelessness, long suffering, patience, morality and bravery never giving up and disappointing their team.
Goals: It is my desire to work with local foster agencies, CPS and CASA to create a support group for youth aging out of care. This county has a support group for parents. The county does not have a support system for youth. As a youth that emancipated from foster care and found it difficult to survive on my own, I have the desire to help others going through that process.
Location: St. Louis County, MO Number of Years in Foster Care: 8 years Interests: Spending quality time with my children, reading, boxing, gardening, learning, traveling, and dancing. I thoroughly enjoy helping others, creating, designing. and improving upon organizational processes, policies, and procedures
Definition of Leadership: Leadership refers to a group of people who leverage their individual gifts, talents, skills, and abilities to collaboratively grow a business, improve upon a cause, champion a position, and carryout a specific mission.
Location: Monroe County, PA Number of Years in Foster Care: 10 Years Interests: My only interests are interactive intervention and proactive prevention of childhood abuses utilizing reform of the original child welfare system… Family.
Definition of Leadership: Leadership is the ability to inspire, motivate and empower a group of individuals towards a common goal with a servants heart.
Our weekly updates meetings are virtual meetings, which allows us to connect with our representatives and our supporters around the United States and beyond. If you would like to share any information that is beneficial to those transitioning out of foster care or those who are guiding them through this transition, please comment on this post and your information may be discussed during the meeting.
NE – RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
HomeStart is a collective effort between the Junior League of Lincoln and HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults to create HomeStart, which provides home essentials for young adults as they transition out of care. These home essentials, like bedding and hygiene items, are provided at no charge.
Source: http://www.klkntv.com/story/37906869/local-non-profit-donates-household-supplies-to-youth-in-need
NY – EVENT PROCEEDS HELPING FOSTER YOUTH GO TO CAMP FELIX
WI – FORMER FOSTER SPOTLIGHT
Chance Cork recently won the Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. After briefly attending college, Chance worked for 6 years and realized that he had an interest in Engineering. Despite a learning disability, he has returned to college and has become a recognized student in the Materials Science and Engineering Program.
Source: https://news.wisc.edu/top-returning-adult-students-honored-for-perseverance-success/
NATIONAL (USA) – FORMER FOSTER SPOTLIGHT
On March 30th, 2018, Kaysie Getty launched her project called Sew Educated. The goal of Sew EdUcated is to provide custom stoles to alumni of foster care graduating from college to celebrate their success and defying the odds. By wearing these stoles it will bring awareness not only to others around them but their universities as well. The vision is to “Change the less than to Greater”. Please click here to visit the Facebook page to learn more,
NATIONAL (USA) – FORMER FOSTER YOUTH MANAGING RESEARCH PROJECT ANYONE with former foster care experience is invited to participate…the end goal is to further protect foster youth rights. My senior thesis, which is IRB approved, is focusing on Foster Youth’s Cultural Identity and It’s Impact on Social Well-Being. I found through my experience, the foster care bill of rights, and and academic literature that cultural identity is an often overlooked yet integral piece of well being especially in foster youth. Here is the link to participate: https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byMqgxUvFj3bddj
NATIONAL (USA) – FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, MARCIO DONALDSON, ON AMERICAN IDOL. VOTING BEGINS ON APRIL 22. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO VOTE ON MARCIO.
NATIONAL (USA) – FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, SHARANE CALISTER, ON THE VOICE.
Most of our discussion will be over the foster youth college they are planning to establish in West Virginia. Thomas Bailey, who is leading the planning of that project, is joining us to discuss some of the specifics and to address any questions/feedback that he is able to answer.
Link to article: https://www.kvc.org/blog/first-college-for-youth-emerging-from-foster-care-gets-name-opening-date/
QUESTIONS/FEEDBACK ABOUT FOSTER YOUTH COLLEGE:
– Cost to the Students
– Cost to the Public
– Admissions Criteria
– Curriculum/Course Offerings (Academic/Trade)
– Accreditation Information
– What kind of Outreach to Foster Youth in High School
– Any Plans for an Open House in the Future?
– What Role Have Foster Youth Played in the Planning for this Project?
– How will the College and Faculty/Staff Address Stigmas and Labeling?
– Is Hiring Alumni from Care a Priority?
– Will this Campus Provide Dormitory Living?
– What Percentage of Students will be able to Live On-Campus?
– How is this an Improvement over Robust College Support Programs (like Guardian Scholars or Fostering Success Michigan) that Serve and Support Students Attending a Traditional College?
– Are you all Partnering with Existing College Support Programs?
– Are Students able to get their General Education and Transfer?
– What Level of Training on Mental Health/Trauma-Informed Care will Staff Have
– Is there a Goal or Openness to Have a Campus Like this in other States in the Future?
– Will there be Distance-Learning Opportunities?
– Are they Currently Hiring? – Kathy Jones
– Would those who had Failed Adoptions or those Adopted at a Late age be able to Attend?
– There’s Something about that which makes it seem less legit, less Accredited. Why not Riverbend College or Riverbend University? Is this Meant to be a Trade-School Only?
– How will this College Play a Role in Integrating those from Foster Care into the General Population?
– How will the young people there maintain connections with their home communities?
– What will the transition from home to campus look like? And then from campus to home?
– What provisions will be made for youth who don’t like it there?
Location: Orange County, CA Number of Years in Foster Care: 17 Years Interests: Proud Father, Martial artist, Comic Book artist, fitness and well-being coach, health care provider, Proud husband and inspiration to enduring children and my fellow Man.
Definition of Leadership: Defying all odds known to Man, Making a positive impact on those who wrongfully endure, Inspiring hope in the hearts of the hopeless,
Please browse the powerful statements made through Rodney’s artistic expression.
It’s in our nature to follow righteousness, but there will be times when darkness threatens the light we strive to hold on to.
