Comments for chronicleofsocialchange

Comment on Obama Signs Bill to Speed Up Transfer of Foster Youth School Records by fosterdad

fosterdad — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:32:11 +0000

Reblogged this on Fostering Thought and commented: This is great news.

Comment on Post-Partisan; the Power of Foster Care Politics by Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:48:37 +0000

[...] The Chronicle of Social Change: Post-Partisan; the Power of Foster Care Politics [...]

Comment on Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill by Shani Heckman

Shani Heckman — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:38:33 +0000

Thanks for doing this work, Daniel and elected officials!
Seeing positive images of ourselves–helps us aspire to a different future and gives us a reason to pursue education.

That’s why I made my foster youth film, America’s Most Unwanted. Yes the title is a play on words–we’re might seem like the most ‘unwanted’ but if you see the film and realize just how many do make it you will realize that feeling wanted and valued can do huge things for youth’s lives. We’re currently also raising funds to get the film to the youth for FREE! each one who has seen it tells us they feel ‘hopeful and inspired’ after watching. This is a great chance to purchase the film for yourself too:
http://www.indiegogo.com/americasmostunwantedDVD/x/8507

Comment on Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill by Congress quietly liberalizes FERPA information access to benefit foster children « Student Press Law Center

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:10:05 +0000

[...] According to proponents, the bill — which passed the House on a voice vote during its unusual Jan. 1 session — eliminates a needless bureaucratic roadblock that was hampering caseworkers assigned to foster children, who are especially prone to switch schools frequently. [...]

Comment on Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill by James Wogan

James Wogan — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 01:05:53 +0000

We at Mt. Diablo Unified Foster Youth Services in Concord, CA look forward to USA being signed into law and implementation thereof! Our foster youth graduate from high school fully prepared to advocate for themselves and they leave connected with adults and each other for support and guidance. ILSP does great work. Foster Youth have their records burned to a protected disc, copies of IEP’s and Section 504 Plans, transcripts, diploma, FAFSA, binders with resource information, and our tel #s on speed dial. We look to http://fosteredconnect.org/ and CSBA for recommended changes to school board policy and best practices for serving foster youth. We are privileged to walk with foster youth and all of the wonderful people who support them.

Comment on Lawmakers Aim to Help Foster Youth Earn an A+ by Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill | Education QA

Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill | Education QA — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 01:55:48 +0000

[...] of Congress who took the floor to discuss the bill on Dec. 30th was Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), who introduced Uninterrupted Scholars alongside Caucus co-founders Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.), Rep. Michele Bachmann [...]

Comment on Lawmakers Aim to Help Foster Youth Earn an A+ by Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill | Edu Help Guide

Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill | Edu Help Guide — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:42:31 +0000

[...] of Congress who took a building to discuss a check on Dec. 30th was Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), who introduced Uninterrupted Scholars alongside Caucus co-founders Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.), Rep. Michele Bachmann [...]

Comment on Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill by girlsflyingsolo

girlsflyingsolo — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:35:48 +0000

Reblogged this on Child Welfare 411.

Comment on Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill by Dr. Vivian Dorsett

Dr. Vivian Dorsett — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:10:28 +0000

As an alumni of the system who also made it out, I advocate with state and national agencies to assist our brothers and sisters in foster care. I want to thank Daniel and Rep. Karen Bass for all they do. It is our responsibility as alumni and professionals in the field of child welfare and education to assist in spreading this message to our state child welfare offices and our youth of their rights.

Here in Texas we have Texas REACH, a growing initiative of Colleges/Universities and CASEY foundation, that brings foster care issues of students in higher education to the forefront. As a state and national advocate, I work one on one with child welfare professionals as well as youth and alumni that are transitioning out of the system.. We have the research that identifies our youth are not succeeding as adults. There are great foster care parents that navigate their way through the system to assist their children. But lets be real, there a foster parents that dont. Chalk that up to the system or the parent, which ever way you want to look at it.

In Texas, we have a foster care bill of rights that insure the youth they recieveproper/equal education, etc., however, the youth are still not aware of their rights or their available resources. If the system wont do it, then it is the responsibility of the parent, the mentor, the alumni to speak up and “Be A Voice” to assist this population. There is a disconnect on what is passed federally and what rights and resources are trickled down to the youth. Education advocacy has to start before the youth are graduating, or exiting high school. I speak to youth aging out of the system looking at higher ed, and they dont even know what ETV is!

We need to collaborate as alumni, advocates, foster parents and child welfare professionals to assist this population.

I am so proud of the national initiatives that are taking place, I only wish they were around when I aged out in 1982. I will devote my life as a higher education professional to assist foster care youth to succeed in education to be successful in their 20′s and not life an adult life of strife and hopelessness. And I challenge others that read this to do the same.

Dr. Vivian Dorsett
College Instructor
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)Texas Chapter
Texas CASA
National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council

Comment on Congress Passes Key Foster Care Education Bill by Helen Ramaglia

Helen Ramaglia — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:07:48 +0000

@Kerry – you are absolutely correct. However, if I might add, trauma is what kept me from learning. Children’s brains are not equipped to handle the magnitude of devastation of their lives and fear takes over EVERYTHING! Even learning, so we must help the child to feel safe (which goes beyond what foster parents can do alone) as well as find tutors in our community for EVERY foster child. We must LIMIT the number of homes a child is in, 1 maybe 2 at the most over the course of their ‘foster tenure’, and we must meet ALL of their unmet needs as well as educating everyone on life & social skill gaps. I am a former foster child and a foster adopted parent, the training we received was no where NEAR what we needed to be COMMITTED foster parents. We were not given the tools necessary to understand the intense trauma our children were in, much less parent them the way they needed to be parented to help them overcome their trauma and be in a place where they could learn. I have since fought for the tools, help and necessary aid to help my foster adopted child go from ‘slightly above mental retardation’ educational level to ‘low to average’ educational level. We must have a deeper knowledge base of FAS and RAD as well. Schools do not consider FAS as a special need and this MUST CHANGE! I could go on and on, Our foster children have been neglected for so long that the list of needs is overwhelming, and it scares everyone off. I have found my voice and I am NO LONGER scared. I am now a middle age woman and I will die fighting for my brothers and sisters in care if that’s what it takes. Communities MUST get involved and offer the necessary resources our children need to succeed. IT TAKES A VILLAGE…….. Thank you for loving God’s children in distress. You are an angel.