Permanency Tip of the Week: Challenging the status quo
When we look at our child welfare and mental health services, it is important to consider that just because something has always been done a certain way does not make it inherently good or bad. We should always look at and reflect on our principles, thoughts and actions to see if they are truly the most effective, sound and appropriate ones. The concept of Permanency is a good example. In the past, Permanency was sometimes equated with placement stability (often in out of home care) and that is what was strived for and often achieved. Today, Permanency is more clearly, powerfully and accurately equated with unconditional, life-long and love-filled inter-personal relationships. While this outcome might be more challenging to achieve than its predecessor, it is birth right of all children to achieve it and so it must be our undying commitment to our youth in foster care.
Permanency Story of the Week: Lemn Sissay: A child of the state
Literature has long been fascinated with fostered, adopted and orphaned children, from Moses to Cinderella to Oliver Twist to Harry Potter. So why do many parentless children feel compelled to hide their pasts? Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay tells his own moving story.
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November is National Adoption Month
This year, National Adoption Month focuses on “Promoting and Supporting Sibling Connections.” The theme pays tribute to the unique bond between siblings—it is the longest lasting relationship most people have, longer than the parent-child or spousal relationship. Over the last two decades, research has demonstrated the critical nature of sibling bonds and their importance for children’s development and emotional well-being. In fact, some research suggests that children and youth in foster care experience better outcomes when placed with their siblings.
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) – 2015 Foster Youth Internship (FYI)
Each summer, CCAI Foster Youth Interns spend 2 months in Washington, D.C. interning for a Member of Congress and writing a Congressional policy report. The internship is open to those who have graduated OR are currently enrolled in and have completed 4 semesters of college/trade school, have spent at least 24 consecutive months AND/OR 36 total months in the foster care system AND have a desire to use their voice on Capitol Hill. Additionally, interns receive a weekly stipend and housing during their assignment. The application deadline for this life-changing internship is Friday, January 9, 2015.
Leadership Development Opportunity for Foster Youth in Post-Secondary Education
California Youth Connection and Los Angeles City College Guardian Scholars is hosting a leadership and professional development training day for college students from foster care on November 15, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Los Angeles City College in Hollywood.
The College Summit is free and is open to students from foster care who are currently enrolled at a trade school, community college, university or private college in Southern California. If you are a campus support program staff member and would like to attend the event with your students, please contact Jenny Vinopal.
Young Adults Ages 18 to 26 Should Be Viewed as Separate Subpopulation
Young adults ages 18-26 are in a critical period of development when successes or failures could strongly affect the trajectories of their lives, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. The committee that wrote the report found that young adults’ brains and behaviors continue maturing into their 20s, and they face greater challenges achieving independence than their predecessors did, have lengthened pathways into adulthood, and are surprisingly unhealthy. The report calls for an improved understanding and response to the circumstances and needs of today’s young adults.
Foster Youth Caucus Update: Congress Comes Together for Foster Youth
This summer, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth visited two districts to examine and better understand challenges and successes in the child welfare system. Over the last three years, members of the Caucus on Foster Youth have traveled to over nine states and have taken the words and ideas of foster youth and advocates directly to Congress. These Listening Tour visits have provided the grounds for an ongoing dialogue between community organizations, child welfare agencies, foster youth and Members of Congress.
The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC) published a new information packet that addresses the significant challenges and particular needs of pregnant and parenting teens in foster care. According to the packet, youth in foster care, due to particular risk factors, have high rates of early pregnancy as compared to youth not in care. These teens go on to face challenges when transitioning out of care such as finding adequate child care, completing their education, and finding jobs. The teens’ own children are more likely to enter foster care or have multiple care placements.
Foster Care, Delinquent Behavior, and Juvenile Justice
Research indicates that children and youth in out-of-home care settings are more likely to be arrested as juveniles than youth in the general population. The May 2014 issue of Fostering Perspectives focuses on this intersection of foster care, delinquent behavior, and juvenile justice. Articles written specifically for foster parents and kinship caregivers seek to answer two questions: 1) How can I prevent youth in my care from getting involved with juvenile justice? 2) What do I do if a child in my home is charged with a delinquent act?