Articles

The “Story” Behind Extending Foster Care Past 18

In 2008, during the waning days of his Presidency, George W. Bush signed the landmark Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act into law. This sweeping change to federal child welfare policy created a host of provisions and mandates intended to improve the lives of foster children across the country.

One of the key provisions offered states that opted into extending foster care to age 21 matching federal dollars, a long time goal of many advocates perennially frustrated with the callous practice of leaving foster children to themselves at 18. The story behind this momentous step forward in how … Read more

AP Runs With Foster Care and Education Narrative

When I started covering foster care in 2006, my focus quickly fell to what happens to youth as they age out of the system. The reason was two-fold: 1) I was mentoring two 16-year old boys who would age out soon enough themselves; and 2) it was what the news media covered when it covered foster care.

There are a number of reasons why the news media had picked up on this story. The Midwest Study was clearly illustrating — in its first, second and third waves — the pitfalls of not adequately preparing foster youth for … Read more

Foster Youth Documenting Time in College To Educate Others on System Challenges and Successes

Sixto Cancel, a former foster youth from Connecticut, has started a media project to document his time in college and reflect on how programs and individuals helped him become a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University. Using photos, writing and video, Cancel will create “Fostering Success,” a four-year documentary to expose what he sees as the challenges and benefits of the foster care system.

“It was adults who took an interest in me and helped make me the person I am today,” said Cancel, who is now working to become one of the less than 3 percent of foster … Read more

Author Explores Ways Communities Can Get Involved With Foster Youth

What is it like to try to love if you haven’t been loved yourself?

This was the idea behind The Language of Flowers, a fiction novel about a foster youth named Victoria who uses the language of flowers to communicate and engage with others as she transitions from the foster care system.

After emancipating from the foster care system at 18, Victoria sleeps in a public park in San Francisco where she plants a garden and begins a relationship with flowers. After discovering that flowers have certain meanings, Victoria starts to communicate with others through this language and searches … Read more

Bold Steps for Students Experiencing Foster Care

Yesterday, the Department of Education and the Administration of Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) issued a letter outlining their shared commitment to ensuring the educational stability and achievement of students experiencing foster care. The missive, addressed to both State School Officers and State Child Welfare Administrators, urges adherence to the educational stability mandates laid of in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.

ACYF Commissioner Bryan Samuels took some time today to share the letter’s importance as one step in a larger strategy aimed at improving the lives of foster children and bolster their chances … Read more

Top Foster Care Advocates in Massachusetts Attend FMC Fundraiser

 

Losing one child is like losing the world, and saving one child is like saving the world, said Massachusetts Senator Stan Rosenberg at a fundraiser for Fostering Media Connections in Boston. The fundraiser, organized by Boston businessman John Lamparelli, was held at the scenic Granite Links Golf Club.

Senator Rosenberg, who grew up in foster care, said it is imperative we all do as much as we can to look after those children in the government’s care because their potential is so valuable to our society. Rosenberg has spent all of his political life advocating for foster children. He … Read more

Bridge Meadows is Opening its Doors – Join the Celebration.

Grand opening
June 17, 2011 12:00 – 1:00PM program, 1:00-4:00PM open house
Bridge Meadows • 8502 N. Wayland Avenue • Portland, OR
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Bridge Meadows is happy to welcome home children, adoptive parents and elders to our inspiring community. Bridge Meadows, formerly known as Portland Hope Meadows, has the mission of developing and sustaining intergenerational neighborhoods for adoptive families of foster children that promote permanency, community and caring relationships, while offering safety and meaningful purpose in the daily lives of older adults. Come celebrate the journey to the Grand Opening and be a part of the magic.
www.bridgemeadows.org

Fostering … Read more

Sokhom Mao, Blazing a Bold Path for Foster Youth

When Eytan and I met Sokhom Mao, he was on the cusp of graduating from the Guardian Scholar’s Program at San Francisco State University. His story, which has since been amply played in the media ever since, was so moving and his voice so strong that I knew he would become a strong advocate and leader.

Well, this week Sokhom hit us all with a double decker: first featured in an beautifully crafted long form piece by KALW Radio’s Holly Kernan and then in an Op-Ed that he penned for Oakland North.

Next week Sokhom will be sworn in as … Read more

NBC Nightly News Story on the Guardian Scholars Program at S.F. State

In May of 2010, Sokhom Mao – a former foster youth graduated from San Francisco State University. He now has successfully transitioned into the professional world and currently works at U.C. Berkeley. By Sokhom’s own account this most likely would not have been possible without the support of The Guardian Scholars Program. Countless other students are currently receiving the support they need to successfully graduate and thrive post-college. In this NBC Nightly News special on the Guardian Scholars Program we meet Sokhom and some of the other students currently enrolled.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, … Read more

A Well-Documented, Strident Child Rights Movement in California

Despite fiscal woe, political inertia was replaced with momentous change when, this week, AB12, which would extend care to age 21 by tapping federal funds laid out by the Fostering Connections Act, charged through the State Senate. Now it sits waiting to move to the Governor’s desk by the end of the September.