Give To Youth In Foster Care This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is usually a holiday that you love or hate.  Remember kindergarten when everyone in class received Valentine’s Day cards and gifts?  I received Valentine’s Day gifts from my mother into young adulthood.  I have done the same for my daughter (her Valentine’s Day packaged arrived at her dorm last week).  For me Valentine’s Day is a day to say I love you in a special way.   For many unhappily single people it is an unwelcomed reminder from a society that portrays one as incomplete if they aren’t involved in a romantic relationship that they are alone.

Will Your Youth Commemorate Black History Month?

Over the last few years, I’ve heard many arguments about whether there is still a need for Black History Month.  The other argument is whether Black History Month creates separatism instead of ethnic pride.  We don’t need Black History Month when have a Black family in the White House right?  I disagree.  I am of the opinion that until the diverse stories of African Americans are interwoven into the fabric of our lives and integrated seamlessly into our school curriculums Black History Month is absolutely relevant.  For African American youth in the foster care system who may not have strong family ties or may not know their family at all, learning about the contributions made by people of the same race can be empowering.  I dare say it can help them form a sense of identity and self-worth.

Foster Teens: Handle With Care

Resilient – rebounding; recovering readily from adversity; returning to its original form after being stretched or bent

Do you recall your teen years with favor and joy?  For many of us adolescence was a challenging time.  Acne, raging hormones, peer pressure, and uncertainty plagued many of us.  Although we may have had the body of an adult, our teen brains had not fully developed.  Our views were shaped by other teens that were just as unsure of where they fit in the world as we were.  We were stuck in an unfamiliar place — no longer children but not yet adults.

Stability and positive discipline help teens thrive. Rules and boundaries offer safety and security.  Rules and boundaries also show teens that someone cares about their present and their future.  The obstacles in adolescence are often magnified for youth who are a part of the foster care system.  Think about it.  Who do you trust when you are unsure of how long you will live in the place where you are right now?  Who can exhibit patience and understanding to help you overcome abuse, abandonment, or apathy?  Who do you believe really “has your back” when you have lived in 3 different places in the last year and a half?

Is There Safety In These Numbers?

I have always been told that there is safety in numbers.  Whether taking a late night bus ride, going to a night club or simply taking a tour of a new city the mantra is still the same – it’s safer to be a part of a group.  Does this still ring true when we consider the youth in the foster care system in our country?  The numbers of children and youth in foster care in the United States has been steadily on the incline.  Let’s take a look.

The Foster Care Numbers

According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) FY 10 data October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010, there were 408,425 children in foster care on September 30, 2010.  Four hundred eight thousand, four hundred and twenty five children and youth ages 0 to 20 years were in foster care last September.  The largest percentage (8%) was age 17.

Where were these children living?

A Teen’s Life Is Worth Documenting

What does “A Teen’s Life Is Worth Documenting” mean to you?

For a child in the foster care system it probably means those words that are written about them in their personal file.  You know the file that precedes them at every meeting, placement, and court hearing.  The file that attempts to explain the reason they entered foster care, the length of time in the system, the changes in schools, the number of foster placements, health concerns, and any mental health screenings and diagnoses. The file containing this documentation is extremely important right? Essential even?!

I’m not speaking of the file that documents the thoughts and judgments of countless social workers, lawyers, doctors, and educators and barely contains the views of the youth in foster care. The accomplishments, aspirations, and support systems in a teen’s life are worth documenting.  Every teen is unique and full of promise and potential.  My teens document their lives in a professional portfolio — a visual tool that gives employers, recruiters, scouts, and mentors a complete picture of who you are.  I believe that a professional portfolio can be an integral element not only in building skills and confidence in youth but also in helping them develop and maintain crucial personal and professional connections.

How Do They Feel In Your Office?

When you visit a kindergarten classroom what do you see?  You see student’s work all over the walls.  When you enter a dentist’s office you generally find a variety of magazines and pictures of healthy mouths. When you walk into a teen health clinic you expect to see pamphlets and brochures related to health issues like STD prevention. The first time I entered a particular suburban high school, I was struck by the pictures of past students in caps and gowns on their graduation day.  The photo gallery began at the entrance of the main office and continued down the main hallway and the hallway leading to the guidance office.  The ultimate goal of each of these four locations is evident as soon as you enter.

Let’s Start A New Year’s Day Tradition!

Many people are compelled to donate gifts to children and youth in foster care during the Christmas holiday season (myself included).  After the Christmas gifts are barely opened we shift our focus to how we will usher in a new year.  A new year exemplifies a new chance to start fresh, another opportunity to change our lives for the better.  People around the world make their lists of New Year’s resolutions.  New Year’s resolutions are goals, projects, or kicking of habits that a person commits to in anticipation of a new year.  Most people plan to stay committed to their New Year’s resolutions for at least the entire year but roughly 4 out of 5 people break their New Year’s resolutions, however.