Youth Perspective

It is that time again. You're going into the big bad world of education and you're not sure if you're ready, if you want it, if it is even worth it. I know the feeling. I have not written a post for a while, but today I just wanted to write and you... Read more

Wow, life after the internship.... I want to thank all of the staff at FosterClub, it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I can't believe that I am blogging again haha. So I've been trying to get a new job as a Youth Adult... Read more

Unlike many, I never had someone treat me less than due to my status as a foster youth. However, I did have people look at me differently- just not in the way you would think. I have always been expected to succeed, regardless of my situation, being... Read more

No one has ever told me directly that I would not, or could not, do something because I was a foster child. However, what many individuals have done to me in my life is express my situation as an excuse for why I could not or would not do something... Read more

There have been countless times where I was told I could or could not do something due to my status as a foster youth. I was not one to have low expectations and standards of myself but others have had that intention. There have been certain things... Read more

Normalcy. Normalcy was something I was told I couldn't have because of my status as a foster youth. And there was so many aspects of this term that I lacked because of being in foster care. It was something I struggled with almost every day and it... Read more

There wasn’t anything that could have prevented me from entering foster care, but there were dozens of services and people that definitely could have made life in foster care a lot easier for my family and I. Some of the major struggles I went through were a result of the foster care system failing my family and I. Things that could have made my foster care experience better would be having social workers who actually did their jobs, truthful honest answers from social workers and the courts, a list of rights for the foster youth and parents, a list of expectations of what social workers are supposed to do etc. Those are just a small portion of things that could have prevented a lot of trauma in my foster care experience. If my kinship relative had emotional support and their own social worker, that would have really helped our case, and maybe, I would still be in contact with them and my extended family. Support services should automatically be given and shouldn't have to be asked for. Read more

In my opinion, if I had these preventions I would have had a better experience in the foster care care system. After I entered the foster care system I was treated like I was not normal. Instead of being able to move on from my horrible past experiences, I had to go to couseling classes. All I wanted to do was focus on the positive. I needed support and love from all the adults what were part of my foster care plan. Another negative part of my foster care experience was not being involved in the decision related to my case. Having a better relationship with my case workers would have been an invaluable part of my foster care experience. Read more

So far, being an All-Star has been a valuable experience. For the first time I have been given the opportunity to be an independent young adult. This internship has been preparing me in a variety of ways; including moving out before the end of this... Read more

Starting when I was three years old, DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) was called on my mom a total of eight times. When I was 14, we were finally offered family therapy, my family therapy never worked because it didn't feel right,... Read more