Greetings!
Walk in these shoes! Former foster youth on the importance of that first job…
Nothing makes me happier than progress and the people who make it happen. Foster youth can travel to forensic tournaments and take ACT/SAT tests because young people like Jessica Holden, her foster parent and her CASA volunteer helped break down those barriers. Foster youth have new opportunities to gain job skills thanks to efforts by people like Jameelah Love.
Research shows that foster youth who have jobs in high school are far more likely to graduate from high school and find success in the world of work. Employment connects foster teens to the wide variety of jobs and people in the world (beyond & in addition to social work), gives them experience handling finances and budgets, and gives them a sense of accomplishment and vision for the future. And it is so helpful for youth to figure out what they do and don’t like about various jobs while they still have a safety net.
Take a listen to Jessica and Jameelah, and help more youth walk in these shoes.
Sue
Susan Conwell, JD
Executive Director
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Job Advice for Foster and Kinship Youth
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Giving a foster youth a job is one of the best ways to help them improve in school and teach them life skills. Encourage your CASA teen to find a job or regular volunteer site!
How to get a job can be a mystery. We asked Jessica Holden, an HR advisor at Dyson (yes, like the vacuums and hand dryers), to give foster youth advice on finding a j
ob. Jessica's expertise is in full cycle recruiting and talent acquisition, on-boarding, HR operations, employee relations, employee recognition and off-boarding. Fun fact: Jessica’s firs
t job was through a City of Milwaukee Program which paired inner city youth with organizations. Jessica was paired with a teacher at Rufus King High School for a summer and she tutored other kids to prepare them for a rigorous curriculum. Jessica is a former foster youth with lots of hiring expertise to share.
Where can I look to find a job?
You can always look on website like Indeed or ZipRecruiter. But Jessica recommends asking your network—does your guidance counselor, coach, community service mentor, religious leader, case manager, or agencies that have provided you services know of any openings? The best opportunities might not be paid so be open to volunteer experiences to gain real work experience. You can also look at the library and on government websites since many offices have job readiness programs.
What should I wear to an interview?
Depending on the job and industry, you should aim for business attire or business casual. Jessica says interview clothes don’t have to be expensive and recommends looking at stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Goodwill. You only need one trusty interview outfit!
What should I bring to an interview?
- You should bring 5 copies of your resume, since interviewers may sometimes bring additional people into the interview who haven’t reviewed your materials. Make sure to carry them in an envelope or folder to keep the paper in good condition.
- Bring a notebook and pen, too.
- Always have questions for the interviewer! It shows that you’ve taken the time to get to know their organization and are interested. It can be hard to think of questions on the spot, so prepare a few ahead of time.
- Make sure you have a great attitude. Even if you realize part way through the interview that it’s not a good fit, or you weren’t that excited to begin with, always put your best foot forward and leave on a good note.
What’s the best way to practice for a job interview?
You can talk out loud to yourself and run through your experience. Learn how to talk about your role, the impact you made, and any major projects you worked on. Learn how to tell a story of your previous work experiences!
Look out for local resources to help you practice too—for example, sometimes local libraries have mock interview sessions. You can also work with someone that you trust to ask you sample questions, practice giving answers, and get real feedback from them.
What do employers look for most when hiring entry level employees?
- A hunger! Jessica says employers want someone who wants to soak in as much information as possible, who wants challenges, and who is willing to try new things and take feedback to improve.
- Communication skills. Are you able to communicate when you need time off? If you don’t understand how to complete a task, can you ask for help?
- Reliability. There will always be temptations to call in sick or not show up, but when you don’t show up, a manager must either personally fill in for you or find someone to fill in at the last minute. Consider how your actions impact everyone else on your team!
I got the job! Now what?
When you are new to the job, you should be in learning mode. Be an active listener and observer. Ask questions about your role. Take the time to learn the workplace culture—it’s okay to start making friends but avoid oversharing.
What should I do if I dislike my job?
Jessica recommends first asking yourself, “What do I have in my control?” Is it that you’re struggling in your role? If so, what tools and resources are available to help you? Are your hours a challenge? Is there a way to make the issue less burdensome? You can work with your manager to express your concerns but
be solution-oriented
! Brainstorm and propose solutions.
Jessica also reminds us that a job is not worth your mental health. You can take the time to find a better fit. There’s a difference between a job and a career. It’s okay to move on from roles!
What are characteristics of a good supervisor?
- Supervisors should be transparent about their expectations and your job performance.
- Good supervisors can coach in the moment and point out ways to improve anytime.
- They have an open door policy and are truly approachable.
- Good supervisors should also be able to adjust their leadership style. Not everyone on their team is going to learn the same way and supervisors should help each team member learn and grow.
What do I do if I have a conflict? How can I get along better with my coworkers?
Once again, you can ask, “What do I have within my control?” Your goal at work is to work. It’s okay not to be friends with every coworker but you should be able to communicate with a level of respect. If you can no longer treat someone with respect or aren’t being treated with respect, it’s okay to move on to the manager or human resources. HR is a great resource to have neutral conversations. Remember, a job is never worth your mental health and is not worth the drama!
Should I share that I was in foster care? How much of my personal life should I share?
Less is more. In an interview, you are not obligated to give any personal information like whether you are married, have children, have health issues, or that you were in foster care. In fact, it is illegal and inappropriate for an interviewer to ask. After you have the job, you can form relationships with your coworkers and make a judgement call. Being is foster care is nothing to be ashamed of but if its not going to impact your role in a positive manner, you can save that personal experience for a more impactful setting. Your experience is highly valuable in a volunteer capacity. For example, is there a local organization you can advise or sit on the board?
Additionally, not every interviewer is trained to interview and they may not be equipped to remain neutral. Protect yourself by focusing on your strengths and work/volunteer experiences!
After foster care, Jessica earned a full ride to Northwestern University and received a B.S. in Education and Social Policy. She then got a Master's from the Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago and has since worked in a variety of human resources roles. She was recently appointed as an Associate Board Member of
New Moms
, a Chicago-area nonprofit th
at works to break the cycle of poverty for new mothers ages 13-24 and their children by providing stable housing, job training (y
ou can support their mission by shopping for
Bright Endeavors
soy candles)
and case management. Jessica was featured
in the newsletter of the Tau Xi Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
Check it out here
(scroll all the way to "
Get to Know the #FinerWomenofForestPark")!
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Creating Opportunities for Foster Youth
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We talked to Jameelah A. Love about a new program she runs at SaintA which aims to put youth in care in real work environments. The program starts with a life skills and employment orientation (Jameelah says her favorite curriculum is
Project Life
) and then foster youth are matched with local job sites. In this first year 10 foster youth will be matched with sites, which include local nonprofits, restaurants, and grocers. Throughout the program, foster youth will also meet with Jameelah twice a week for support with any challenges they're having at the job and for finding long-term employment after the program.
Jameelah says that foster youth looking for their first jobs shouldn't be too picky and should apply everywhere, because it easier to find jobs after you've already had one! They should also practice interview skills ahead of time and make sure their resume is easy to read. We're excited to report that Kids Matter will be a job site and host a foster youth this fall!
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Identity Theft is a Serious Issue Facing Foster Youth
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Imagine you are a 17 year old in foster care. It was an uphill battle, but you will successfully graduate from high school. You finally secured a part time job and plan to begin saving for a security deposit on an apartment so that you have some place to stay once you turn 18 and can no longer live in the group home. You have applied to a local college since your plan is to go on to higher education.
Then your student loan application gets rejected, and your new employer tells you she can’t hire you because of bad credit. Your plan crumbles. You have no idea what this means. How can you have several outstanding debts including an auto loan and a mortgage when you’re only 17?
You have been a victim of child identity theft, and you have no idea what to do.
Children in foster care are the easiest and most vulnerable targets for identity theft. There are many people involved in their lives. Parents, case managers, mentors, foster parents, kinship care providers, and treatment facilities personnel; all these people may have access to the children’s personal information and may be able to use it without anyone noticing. Most foster children do not discover the fraud until they age out of the foster care system. By then, they no longer have legal representation or any other support needed to correct their credit history. The exact number of children who have been victims of identity theft in Wisconsin is not known. However, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego, half of the 84,000 children in California’s foster care system have been victims of identity theft and the average debt is over $12,000.
Waiting to resolve identity theft only creates more obstacles to success as foster children age out of the system. Having bad credit can influence the ability of young people to start their lives on the right track. Foster youth victimized by identity theft will suffer from affects on their education, housing, health, and more. Bad credit can prevent youth from being able to rent an apartment, contract for utilities, and apply for financial aid to attend college.
By federal law, each child in foster care who is sixteen or older is entitled to a copy of his or her credit report each year. See 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)I. State agencies are required to provide the credit report without cost to the child. Agencies must also assist the foster care child with reviewing the credit report and address any inaccuracies. Therefore, in Milwaukee, the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW) must provide foster care youths with copies of their credit report. BMCW is also required to help these youth in resolving issues shown on their credit report.
For more information on how to detect identity theft and how to address errors,
watch this video
.
Steps to protect from identity theft:
- Ensure the credit of a young person in foster care is checked as part of every transition services plan.
- Tell the young person not to carry their Social Security card and remind them to never give out their Social Security number over the phone or on the internet.
- Keep any and all financial statements in a safe and private place. If they do not have a safe place to keep their information, like a locked box or storage container, offer to keep their documents for them in a safe and secure place in your office.
- Instruct them to keep their Personal Information Number (PIN) and password to private accounts private. This includes passwords to email, Facebook, bank statements, and loan accounts.
- Ask them to always shred all pre-screened offers they receive by mail. If they want to opt out of receiving pre-screened offers, tell them to call 1-800-5-OPT-OUT.
- Remind them to always shred all sensitive documents. Throwing these papers in the trash is not enough. Their information can be stolen by people looking in the dumpsters.
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CASA Continuing Education Opportunities
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Tour of O-YEAH Milwaukee at Owen’s Place and Psychology Consultation with Dr. Bob Dries
2 for 1! Join us for a tour of recently renovated O-YEAH and a conversation with Kids Matter Board Member Dr. Robert Dries. O-YEAH (Older Youth Emerging into Adult Heroes) supports young adults who are experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges to successfully transition into adulthood. O-YEAH is having their grand re-opening the same evening, so we are lucky to get the first look! After the tour of O-YEAH, we will meet with Dr. Dries,
a clinical psychologist in private practice in Wauwatosa, working with children, adolescents and families. He has also been a psychology consultant to Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, Rogers Memorial Hospital, and numerous other hospitals and clinics performing psychological evaluations with children and adults. Come gain a greater understanding of mental health issues affecting a child in foster care or a CASA youth!
Call or email Nidhi to RSVP.
Date:
Thursday, August 15, 2019 from 11:30am-1:00pm
Location:
Owen’s Place, 4610 W Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53216
What is QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Training?
How do you approach a person who is showing signs that they are in crisis? You need to ask questions, persuade them to have a conversation, and refer them to professionals who can help. After this training you will be able to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and, proven suicide prevention techniques. This training is not recommended for people who recently lost a loved one to suicide. Kids Matter staff, Elena and Justine, attended a QPR Training with Jeremy Triblett of Community Advocates and highly recommend it, especially for learning how to ask the right questions.
QPR Training led by Jeremy Triblett and sponsored by City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention and Community Advocates Public Policy Institute.
Register here.
Date:
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Location:
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant St., Suite 210
The Brain Architecture Game
This is a tabletop game experience that builds an understanding of the powerful role of experiences on early brain development. If your organization or community is embarking on a conversation about adverse childhood experiences, toxic stress, or
other early childhood issues, The Brain Architecture Game can be a valuable resource for creating a common understanding of and a common language about these topics.
Register here.
Date:
Thursday, August 29, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location:
Community Advocates Training Center, 6900 W. Brown Deer Road
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Thank you Just Fore Kids!
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Our friends at Just Fore Kids "teed up to make a difference" for our kids! Many thanks to all the golfers who competed in four-person scrambles at New Berlin Hills Golf Course. CASA volunteer Randi Reynolds represented Kids Matter at the fun-filled charity event to help raise awareness and dollars to support local children and families. Thanks "fore" your support!
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