Articles

Dr. Sue

Recently, we at FMC had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Sue Cornbluth about her journey to becoming a voice in the foster care movement. She writes a weekly blog for the Examiner and recently finished a book on attachment and loss.

Details below…

Child welfare professionals working with foster children need the most up to date effective training tools to help make a difference in foster children’s lives. Dr. Sue Cornbluth, of Temple University has recently written and published a new training manual titled, ‘The Ambiguous Foster Child: Attachment, Separation, Loss & Loyalty.” The manual is based on her … Read more

The Senate Caucus on Foster Youth

“Speakers Series”

Thursday, July 14th, from 2-4pm in CVC 212

The most exciting and successful efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable children and youth are occurring outside of the “D.C. Bubble.”   The purpose of the “Speakers Series,” is to highlight grass-root practitioners of innovative programs and strategies that improve outcomes for children and youth in foster care and to allow these individuals to share their experiences in the field and their ideas about how best to reform the system with the Congressional and D.C. Community.

The Senate Caucus on Foster Youth plans to … Read more

CWLA Urges Congress: Don’t Deprive Children of Food

WASHINGTON, DC — The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization, is taking issue with the latest, severe budget cuts proposed by the House Appropriations Committee to food assistance, which will harm vulnerable children especially those in or at risk of entering the child welfare system.

“Clearly we need to reduce our budget deficit, but not by depriving babies of food. Many children who are the victims of abuse and neglect rely on food and nutrition programs. These draconian cuts will make their lives worse and only add to their burden,” explained … Read more

Enhancing and Celebrating Family Reunifications from Foster Care: A Congressional Briefing

Tuesday Morning, June 14

10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

215 Dirksen Senate Office Building

To mark “National Reunification Days” which celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of parents/caregivers who have successfully worked to be reunified with their children after placement in foster care.

This Briefing will recognize the hard work of mothers and fathers, their advocates, the courts, and the entire services/treatment team in helping families achieve safe and stable reunifications. Presenters will include parents, a youth successfully reunified from care, a judge, and others

ABA Center on Children and the Law

American Humane Association & others in commemorating the primary “permanency goal” … Read more

New Fund to Help Former Foster Youth Climb Capitol Hill

Selected Congressional Interns from Across America Get a Start on Professional Life

“Because Potential Only Matters If You Use It”

WASHINGTON, DC—Former foster youth interning in Congress this summer will get a little help from the Sara Start Fund for Foster Youth, a new venture announced today by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). With partners including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Under Armour and matchbox food group, the Sara Start Fund is designed to help former foster youth get a start on their professional lives by providing a stipend for a business wardrobe and informal career counseling.  The Phillips Collection art … Read more

A Survival Story – Foster Kids Won’t Quit (Feature Doc)

The foster and homeless youth of Southern California face many unprecedented dangers in the pursuit of their dreams. Mitch Allen and Raymond Cinemato have spent the last year developing a documentary entitled “A Survival Story” to expose and support our less fortunate bretheren which you can find more information on at the ‘Kickstarter’ website here.

This project aims to empower homeless and foster youth aged 16-24 by providing a voice for their stories. The hope is connect people of influence (including A-list celebrities, politicians, and you) to the means to help.

But this project wont survive if it doesn’t … Read more

New Feature Documentary Film Chronicles the Story of Foster Care Alumni Working to Change the System that Raised Them

MISSOULA, MONTANA – The award winning Porch Productions announces the release of From Place to Place, the long awaited and eagerly anticipated feature documentary about the invisible children who grow up in America’s foster care system. After aging out of foster care, From Place to Place follows plucky underdogs Mandy and Raif on an unlikely journey as they set out to change the system that raised them. The film unearths one of America’s hidden tragedies, while providing glimmers of hope as to how we can better care for our most vulnerable children. Shot on location in Montana, Washington DC, … Read more

John Burton Foundation Event in San Francisco, May 25th

F* is for FOSTER: An event in honor of National Foster Care Month

San Francisco, CA – On Wednesday May 25th the John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes is hosting a food truck fundraiser at Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion to raise awareness and funds in support of California’s 200,000 homeless youth and thousands of foster youth.

The benefit will feature tastings from five favorite Bay Area gourmet food trucks (CurryUp Now; LIBA Falafel; Tacos San Buena; Eat Mo’ Bowl; Little Green Cyclo), bay area breweries (Magnolia Brewery; Black Diamond Brewery; Lagunitas) and wineries (J. Lohr; Vina Castellano). The event … Read more

The Resilient Spirit: A Guest Panel From a Child’s Point of View into the Foster Care System

If you live in Los Angeles or will happen to be there in mid May this event could be for you!

IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH

A child’s journey through the Foster Care system has many influences serving “the best interest of the child.” In this event, we will follow from a “child’s point of view” the people he/she comes in contact with in consecutive order, from when a child enters the system to their emancipation. Guests include a Foster-Adopt Parent, a Foster Youth in Transition, a Children’s Court Judge, a Social Worker, a Child’s Attorney, and … Read more

Institute Celebrates Publication of Executive Director’s New Book, `Adoption Nation’

FMC would like to congratulate Adam Pertman on the release of his timely book, Adoption Nation.

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is delighted to announce the publication of Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming Our Families – and America, which was written by our Executive Director, Adam Pertman, and which has been reviewed as “the most important book ever written on the subject.”*

Among the broad array of current, in-the-news topics covered in Adoption Nation are:

The steep decline in international adoptions, reflected in new State Department statistics and fueled by incidents such the “return” of an … Read more