The Good Stuff in Child Welfare |
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Welcome to The Good Stuff in Child Welfare!
Our team at the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, & Research recognizes that between the all too frequent and grim child welfare stories that make us teary-eyed, clenched-fisted, and faint-hearted, there are inspiring accomplishments and heartening endeavors taking place all over this country at every level of practice. To elevate and promote these encouraging stories, we are pleased to bring you this monthly newsletter emphasizing news stories only about “The Good Stuff” from the broad field of child welfare. This month, we focus on stories that highlight innovative programming for older youth aging out of care, supporting their pathways to education, careers, and independence. We hope this read gives you a few moments of hopefulness and a sense of possibility.
If there's something you'd like to see here, shoot us an email. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff in Child Welfare? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do.
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Embark Georgia Receives $1.5M to Expand Program |
With resources and support, students with foster care experience are more likely to attend and succeed in higher education. Since 2012, Embark Georgia has been supporting state universities across Georgia with designating and training points of contact to provide resources to this population. Now, two recent grants totaling $1.5 million from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Joseph B. Whitehead Child Well-Being Fund will allow Embark Georgia to expand and elevate the work, including more technical assistance, professional development, data collection and analysis, and pre-college programming for students in foster care. David Meyers, Embark Georgia co-network director says, “We appreciate the partnership of these two organizations. We share a vision for the bright future of these young people.”
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Years in, La La Land Café’s Mentor Program for Former Foster Kids Flourishes |
A local businessman in Dallas, TX created a mentorship program aimed to fill some of the voids and missed life lessons – both big and small – often experienced by youth in the foster care system. The We Are One Project is a robust opportunity for youth formerly in care that offers crucial mentoring, career help, assistance with housing, therapy and budgeting, as well as job opportunities. The We Are One Project created a coffee shop, La La Land Café, to offer hands-on employment experience and job training. La La Land's program provides a sense of community and security while navigating the transition to a healthy and independent lifestyle.
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'Let It Be Us' Helping Young People Make the Leap from Foster Care to Adult Independence |
Young people in the Chicago area who age out of care are getting encouragement from a child welfare organization called Let it Be Us. The organization’s Springboard to Adulthood program provides aid in the form of financial guidance and support as well as adult mentors. Founder and executive director Susan McConnell said that when the young people they serve have the family-like structure that comes from their mentors, “they can be successful”. One client, Alex, said "Let It Be Us has been like my parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle; they've been like my family.”
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Green Bay Nonprofit Breaks Stigma Around Teens in Foster Care by Sharing Their Stories |
Foundations Health and Wholeness, a non-profit organization in Green Bay, WI, breaks down barriers between youth in foster care and the child welfare system. The organization launched a new initiative, "Breaking the Stigma," to empower and embrace positive change in the child welfare system by highlighting some teens’ journey through foster care with a screening of videos sharing their stories. They hope this initiative will educate, build compassion, and activate the community.
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San Diego Woman Becomes Fierce Advocate for 'Foster Youth' |
Simone Hidds-Monroe knows first-hand what it's like to live in foster care. Fortunately, she and her siblings were allowed to all attend San Pasqual Academy, a residential high school for teens in foster care and her energy returned. Simone achieved great academic success, graduating as valedictorian before going on to eventually earn her master’s. Now, Simone is using her experience to rally behind the non-profit organization Just in Time for Foster Youth in Mission Valley, CA. This organization specifically caters to the needs of youth who have recently aged out of the foster care system.
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The Field Center team would like to thank the staff and students who brought this newsletter together. Specifically, we recognize our Spring 2023 students Richard Wren, Meghan Chasar and Em Brandon for their contributions in providing readers with this uplifting content. Many thanks to our Associate Director Sarah Wasch for editing and our Administrative Coordinator Felicia Saunders for handling design and distribution. Special thanks to our Managing Faculty Director, Dr. Johanna Greeson for her idea to curate the “good news stories” happening in child welfare! |
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