We are learning through the pandemic. After several of our former foster youth got sick with COVID, we realized no one was talking to youth aging out of foster care about preparing for medical emergencies. In foster care, sometimes strangers make decisions for youth--as adults it's important that former foster youth think about their wishes and desires and make decisions for themselves. This guide on power of attorney for health care and our new legal clinic on November 9th are the first of their kind. Read more about the legal clinic below.
I hope you'll share this information with any young adult you know who was raised in foster or kinship care. Together, we can help young adults take control of their lives.
We're excited to offer many new opportunities for you, whether you're a former foster or kinship youth, a relative caregiver or a volunteer. Please continuing reading to to get involved!
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Sue
Susan Conwell, JD
Executive Director
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New! Free Legal Clinic on November 9th |
When someone is incapacitated due to unexpected illness or injury, doctors call on the closest legal relative to make medical decisions--unless there is a power of attorney for health care in place. For former foster and kinship youth, their closest legal relative may not be the person they trust to make medical decisions.
Please share widely! Kids Matter is offering free advice and assistance on filling out power of attorney for health care forms on Monday, November 9th via Zoom. This opportunity is for young adults formerly in foster and kinship care and current foster youth who are 18 years old or older. Participants must sign up ahead of time and will receive a personal Zoom link to join at a scheduled time.
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Volunteer Attorneys Needed! |
Would you like to help with this effort? Are you a lawyer? We need you! No background in estate planning is needed--we'll provide training. Staff Attorney Beth Lauck will host a virtual training on Thursday, November 5th from noon-1:00pm. If you're not available, alternate arrangements can be made for training. Email us for more information. Thank you!
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October Grandfamilies Support Group |
Grandparents and other relatives raising children, join us for The Power of Positive Parenting for Grandfamilies over Zoom on Tuesday, October 27 from 5:30pm-7:00pm. This session will be led by experts at The Parenting Network who have adapted the Triple P Seminar for grandfamilies.
If you RSVP, attend the session and complete a short survey, you'll be entered for a chance to win a $50 Walmart gift card and a Thanksgiving-themed gift basket! Email [email protected] to RSVP.
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The Milwaukee Film Festival starts tomorrow! Milwaukee Film has adapted the festival so you can watch films on demand at home from October 15th-29th. Click here to find out more.
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Meet our new AmeriCorps member! Chloe Gaynor just graduated from Emory University with a BA in Political Science and Sociology. She is working with the CASA team on volunteer recruitment, training and more. Chloe has always known that she wanted to support children--she hopes to attend law school and continue working with children. In her free time Chloe enjoys running, cooking and exploring new areas.
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Join the Kids Matter Book Club |
The Kids Matter book club will meet on Monday, October 26th from 6 pm to 8 pm over Zoom to discuss Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond.
In Evicted, Princeton sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” Matthew Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they each struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of twenty-first-century America’s most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.
If you’d like to join the discussion, email [email protected] to become a member. Please have "Book Club" in the subject line and include your name, preferred email address, and let us know if you're a CASA volunteer in the body of the email. We hope to see you over Zoom!
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Generations United: 2020 State of Grandfamilies Report |
Around the United States, about 2.7 million children live in grandfamilies or kinship families – families in which grandparents, other adult family members or close family friends are raising children – with no parents in the home. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened challenges and inequities across the myriad of systems that impact grandfamilies like child welfare, aging, and housing.
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Last Chance! Automotive Class from Chaya Starts Oct. 24th |
The amazing automotive educator Chaya Milchtein is offering 2-3 scholarships for former and current foster youth to participate in her online course, Before Your First Car: A Virtual Car Ownership Class for Teens and Young Adults. If you are or know of a foster youth looking to buy their first car, email [email protected] for more information on the scholarship. Chaya will provide a donation toward the purchase of the car to one lucky current or former foster youth who completes the course.
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Thanks Ticket to Dream & Famous Footwear |
From baby shoes to work shoes, we have them all! A huge thank you to Ticket to Dream Foundation for partnering with Famous Footwear and donating 150 pairs of new shoes for our foster children and teens.
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If you participate in United Way, Community Shares, Combined Federal Campaign, or the State Employee Combined Campaign you can select Kids Matter as your charity of choice! Thank you for your support! |
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