National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity raise awareness of the experiences and needs of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. Pack A Backpack Drive is The Teen Toolbox’s annual National Foster Care Month event. During the month of May we have collected and distributed new and gently used backpacks (duffel bags, and luggage) and new personal hygiene items to teenage males in group homes, foster homes, and homeless shelters.
Today is the last day to donate: toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, hand sanitizer, deodorant, soap, acne products, lotion, powder, shampoo, conditioner, shaving items, etc. We are also collecting disposable cameras and wallets.
What I Know Now:
- These drives have grown too large for Nicki to make all the deliveries
There are two books written for young adults that have been recommended to me in the last week. The books are:
The Defining Decade: Why your twenties matter – and how to make the most of them now by Meg Jay, PhD
Twentysomething: Why Do Young Adults Seem Stuck? by Robin Marantz Henig and Samantha Henig
The disclaimer I was given is that the books are most likely more appealing to professionals who work with young adults than to young adults themselves. I plan to check them out soon.
I am a strong proponent of reading for all ages. Here is a photo recap of my favorite books for teens:
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Biological Mothers, Adopted Mothers, Foster Mothers, Step Mothers, Grandmothers, God Mothers, Mothers In Law, and Mother Figures. THANK YOU!
The mother’s heart is the child’s school-room. -Henry Ward Beecher
There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one. -Jill Churchill
When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. -Sophia Loren
Permanent link to this post (91 words, 2 images, estimated 22 secs reading time)
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Yesterday was National Teacher Day (May 7, 2013). Did you thank a teacher?
This blog post is dedicated to all the amazing teachers preparing a new generation of change world changers! THANK YOU!!
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
–Henry Brooks Adams
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
–William Arthur Ward
“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”
–Mark Van Doren
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.”
–Japanese proverb
Although many people misunderstand them, negatively stereotype them, underestimate them, and are even a bit afraid of them, I love working with teens. Teens are not just our future – they are our present. I believe that we all have an obligation to prepare a better world for them to inherit and also to adequately prepare them to be world changers.
As we continue to highlight the great work of various agencies, individuals, and publications throughout National Foster Care Month, today I want to send a very special THANK YOU to all the foster parents stepping in to bring positive changes to so many lives. Happy Foster Care Month!! YOU ROCK!! (Oh, and by the way, I do realize that society negatively stereotypes foster parents as well).
Today is the day. May 1st marks the beginning of National Foster Care Month. This entire month is dedicated to showcasing that each of us can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care.
National Foster Care Month 2013 – Supporting Youth In Transition
- On any given day there are more than 400,000 children in foster care.
- Roughly 28,000 youth will leave foster care without a permanent family.
National Foster Care Month also provides an opportunity for acknowledging the thousands of dedicated foster families and other caring individuals and organizations who are already supporting youth in foster care. We can never publicly recognize all the agencies supporting these young people. We will highlight various agencies throughout National Foster Care Month.
