Ready For Life
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Hello all. My name is Carrie and I am a former foster child. I am now 23 years old and working with an organization called Ready For Life. This organization is focusing on the transitioning of youth out of foster care following their 18th birthdays. They are seeking to provide services and resources to assist 17-18 year olds with this transition. I am assisting them to gather information regarding what has worked and what has not worked in other areas. What services do you feel you need or would like to have been offered to you when you were preparing to live on your own? They are dividing their teams into ten groups to focus on different areas of need such as transportation, healtcare, legal issues, etc. I would love to hear from you all if you have anything you can contribute.
Thanks,
Carrie
posted Mar 2nd, 2009
I believe you should look up the national resource center for youth developement/service s and their website would be super helpful! trust n believe! i did lol
DREAM BIG, LIFE IS FULL OF OBSTACLES, DONT INVOLVE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT WONT HELP YOU REACH YOUR DREAMS AND GOALS!
hello i hope you also contact more of the flordia All Stars because they would definally help you out more because the know the Flordia Fostercare system better then most of us from NYS, Las Vegas and etc
ur 2009 NYS All Star
I would suggest you contact some of the Florida AllStars they would be able to provide excellent perspective
i think a problem is finding a place to stay. i always feel like I'm looking ahead two weeks, two months, or whatever and never really knowing where I'm going to be. it would be great to have resources in finding housing.
also, just a program with mentors. i feel like just some connection, some stability, would be really great because everything is changing at once!
Hello Skater,
I just read your posting about finding housing and trying for some stability. The sole purpose of Fresh Start Housing is to provide stability, giving each resident the opportunity to gain independence in a positive way. When you get a chance look us up on the web. I found a few more houses with similar programs, when I receive permission to share their information I will gladly provide the additional resources.
Sandra Roussel
Founder/Fresh Start Housing
Carrie,
I am from Indiana, I moved to VA to pursue a job opportunity. As I aged out in Indiana, they didn't have very many programs available at all for people like myself (though I know that this is something that they are seeking to change). Currently, there is a more concentrated interest in maintaining "educational permanency" even if they can't achieve a full permanency plan for each child. Additionally, Indiana has developed a number of youth boards to allow youth to have their voices heard, and transportation to ensure that the youth are able to get there successfully.
Hope this helps,
Sharde
Be the change you want to see in the world. -Muhatma Ghandi
Hello Carrie,
I found the best advice for our house provided from Mark Kroner MSW,LSW
Mark received his BA in Psychology in 1973 and his Masters in Social Work Degree in June, 1997 after being awarded the Midwest Region Scholarship Award from the CWLA. Mark testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services concerning the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and was invited to attend the signing of the bill, where one of his program's youth spoke on behalf of American foster youth and introduced President Clinton. His books "Housing Options for Independent Living" and "Moving In: Ten Successful IL/TLPs" provide a summary of what is going on around the country related to housing youth leaving care. He received the National Independent Living Association's Founder's Award in 2000. Lighthouse won the 2003 NILA Organization of the Year Award.
Google him and you will find plenty of information on advancing your program.
Sandra Roussel
Founder/Fresh Start Housing
Fresh start housing looks like a wonderful program to help transition youth out of foster care. It would be great to see more opportunities like that develop across the nation and here in Florida.
Carrie,
I can certainly tell you that some of the obstacles I ran into were lack of appropriate healthcare, lack of a place to stay, and general lack of resources or information on how to find those resources. You might try to contact the fosterclub headquarters in D.C. and asking the staff there if they have any information on hand if you are trying to streamline the process. Of course, posting on here is a great way to get information as well.
Hope this helps,
Be the change you want to see in the world. -Muhatma Ghandi
Hi Sharde, thanks for the reply. I believe that the biggest problem with the services offered to foster youth is that nobody has asked these youth what they feel they need. We are trying to change that here in Tampa Bay, which is what Ready for Life is all about. Now that you are 23 have you noticed any programs availabe to youth transitioning now that were not availabe to you in your area? Are there any great programs in Virginia that you feel really helped with the transition process? I appreciate your feedback.
Carrie
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