What's Your Story???

WHO AM I?

My name is Jennifer. I was placed in foster care at age 14 and left at age 18. I am currently 26 years old, and I am pursuing my degree in Social Work. I was a very fortunate young lady, and only had one placement, with amazing people who loved me beyond expectation. My foster mother has since passed away, and the project you are going to read about below will be lovingly dedicated to her. I urge you to help in any way you can. Whether it be by participating as a subject, financially assisting, putting me in contact with organizations who can possibly help with publication or grants, or most importantly, verbally supporting me in my efforts. I want to Thank you in advance for taking the time to read about my project.

WHAT AM I DOING?

I am filming a documentary with the help of a very wonderful professional videographer. The goal of this documentary is to educate the public about the truths of foster care, what the young people who go through the system experience, what they feel, how they are treated by peers who don't understand, etc.. I will be in this documentary as a subject, and my life and exeriences are going to be in the public eye. I am doing this in an effort to show our country the impact foster care has on our young people, and how vitally important it is to care about the youth in the system. Even the ones who escape the system, but are still left with no guidance through life, or the transition to adulthood.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

I still need other people to be in this documentary who are not afraid of telling their TRUE story. It is essential that this documentary outlines the REAL LIFE stories of people who have been through the system. People need to see what foster care is, and how they can help the youth that are in the system today!

WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS NEEDED?

#1 This documentary is going to address the impact foster care has on females. Let me explain. I believe it is also important to address what males go through, and I do plan to film a documentary in the future about what they experience as well, but since males and females deal so differently with emotion, and stress, I feel it is important to focus on one and then the other. I chose to start with females because I can relate better, and therefore be more invloved in the whole process.
#2 I would like to interview females who are currently in their 20's who entered the foster care system as a teenager, and remained in care for at least 2 years, but preferably until aging out. The reason for this, is because small children have a harder time remembering what the transition was like, from home to foster care. I would like for the subjects to be able to tell their story clearly, recalling the feelings, and situations involved. The reason I would like the subjects to be in their 20's is because this doumentary needs to be relevant to how the system operates today, not 20 or so years ago.

I want to state again, that it is neccesary to be willing to be truthful: about the circumstances, your feelings, your part in the problem (when applicable), and reality of where your life is today!

I believe this documentary will be able to help adults who are involved with this nations youth to understand some of the trials they face, as well as maybe give some idea's of how they can impact a child's life in a positive way.

Please feel free to contact me here if you are interested in being a part of this much needed film.

Jennifer