2010 Central Ohio FCAA Thanksgiving

The Central Ohio FCAA Thanksgiving was made possible by:

• Capital University ROTC Crusader Battalion
• Kappa Sigma Upsilon
• Franklin County Department of Children and Family Services
• Starr Commonwealth
• Village Network
• Columbus Jewish Foundation

Many thanks goes to Ohio CASA for assistance with decorations, NYAP, and several individuals who volunteered their time and/or financial assistance.

2010 Northeast Ohio FCAA Thanksgiving

 

The Northeast Ohio FCAA Thanksgiving was made possible by:

• Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services
• Village Network
• Antioch Baptist Church

State Senator Shirley Smith, Judge Michael J. Ryan, and Judge Patrician Ann Blackmon were in attendance.

Danny Taylor shared his Thanksgiving poem.

Many thanks goes to Zelma Brown, Joe Jackson and Adoption Network Cleveland.

2010 Southwest Ohio FCAA Thanksgiving

The Southwest Ohio FCAA Thanksgiving was made possible by:

• Cincinnati Works
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
• Richter and Phillips Jewelers

Decorations were donated by Kroger, and the beautiful table arrangements made possible by Val Bairnsfather.

Channel 12 and Fox News stopped by to capture some of the excitement.

Protect Your Personal Information Online

Halloween is over, but if you want to feel scared, just do this:


Go to http://www.spokeo.com/
Search for yourself (by personal email address OR name OR phone)

They will list your name, age, home address and a map to your house, if you own a house. They will list any blogs you have written and any social networks that you are a part of… including your Amazon wish list.

If you are uncomfortable with having that information available online, they will take it down, but you have to submit the request three times:

Go to: http://www.spokeo.com/privacy - you’ll want to keep this page open, because you are submitting all three requests via this form.

Then, open a separate browser and go back into http://www.spokeo.com/

1. Search for yourself by email. Copy that URL into the privacy page and follow the instructions, including checking your email to confirm the request

2. Search for yourself by name. You can scroll down to your state and if you own a house, they will list your address. Copy that URL into the privacy page and follow the instructions.

3. Search for yourself by phone. Cell phones are still relatively anonymous, but if you have a home phone, see how much information about people can pull up. If you want that info taken down, then Copy that URL into the privacy page and follow the instructions.

The fact that this level of information about us is just out there on the internet is S-P-O-O-K-Y….

If you are "jealous" of emancipating foster care youth, then maybe you need a heart transplant

I am currently wrestling with an issue regarding how to respond to the "But I had it harder" attitude -- which I believe is inaccurate, and stands in the way of helpfulness to today's foster care youth.

During a recent college event for foster care youth, an adult presenter from an outside agency, who came from an impoverished background, commented on about how much she wished that she had access to the resources available to emancipated foster care youth (in terms of filling out the FAFSA as an independent and ETV funds).

However, that doesn't take into account:

• the value that "family privilege" brings to youth from intact families
• the accrued knowledge, information and love that adds up over the years (aka: "common sense")
• the value of actually having a place to go to on the holidays, and having someone miss you when you aren't there.

I'm not only a former foster child, I'm also a college-and-grad school graduate, wife and stepmom to two beautiful daughters who are now in college.

My husband and I view parenting as an honor, a privilege and a charge. This means that our daughters will NEVER need to worry about:

• Whether or not they are lovable and precious to us.
• Whether or not we will protect them and provide for them.
• Whether or not they can call when they are struggling, or stay with us during college breaks.
• Whether or not, on holidays, we would miss them if they weren't there.

Such is not the same for foster children.

Such was not the case for me. I remember, so clearly, what it felt like to be a young person in college, and facing that existential crisis of wondering why I was here on earth if there isn't going to be someone to love me.

But, at the end of the day, it is not about me. It is about each and every one of these young people who are "aging out" of foster care in the midst of A RECESSION and trying to survive.


And that's the cause that I am dedicating my heart to...

Litmus Test for Child Welfare

One of the litmus tests of child welfare agencies regarding how much they truly care about the clients they serve and lifelong outcomes for youth is how they respond to alumni of the foster care system.  

I've seen the good.... the bad... and the ugly.

85% of College Students Move Back Home After Graduation

CNN recently reported that the number of college seniors who plan to move back home with their parents after graduation has risen from 67% in 2006 to 85% in 2010.

Reasons?

• A 15% unemployment rate for young people ages 20-24

• An average of $24,000 in student loan debt 

• The highest unemployment rate for college graduates on record

Increasing Access to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Youth

The National Center for Homeless Education has developed an issue brief: Increasing Access to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Youth: Information for Colleges and Universities.

This publication exists to inform postsecondary educators and education administrators about the struggles of homeless youth and possible solutions that can help these youth achieve a college education.