fosteryouthvoicemonth – Page 2

October 23, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

We are Organizational Assets

Hey y’all! This is Diamond Whitley, the Youth Engagement Specialist from One Voice IMPAACT (follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @onevoiceimpaact, please). About a year ago, I was asked to join the Florida Performance Improvement Prototype (PIP) workgroup. This workgroup was designed to find the root causes to some of issues in the Florida Child Welfare System. I was surrounded by system professionals with over 20 years of experience. This caused me to be extremely insecure in my role on the workgroup. Then, my supervisor set up a meeting with a facilitator of the group. This was the moment I realized that I was an organizational asset. My experience was the reason I was here. My experience is my expertise. From there, you couldn’t shut my mouth! There was so much validation for my experiences. I honestly felt as though I was put in one of the highest regards.

After the workgroup ended, I was called upon again to talk about youth voice in the child welfare court system. I was trusted to use my experience again, only this time it was on a federal level. The main takeaway is that this is a common sentiment among system professionals. They want to hear from youth. They love to hear from youth. If we can make a system that has youth readily willing and able to share their experiences, we can make youth voice a requirement, not an option. We are the only ones who can change the way youth are perceived. We are and always will be organizational assets.

Diamond Whitley is the Youth Engagement Specialist for One Voice IMPAACT. When she’s not working, she’s a full-time student at UCF. She’s majoring in psychology to enter a career in therapy and has dreams for days!

October 22, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

WE are Worthy of Being Heard

Foster youth from all over the world are using their voices to relay what they need to see changed in a system, that’s a concept created for them. Whether you are a biological parent, a foster parent, a caseworker, a judge, a stranger, I encourage you to LISTEN. Not only do I encourage you to listen, but I also challenge you to HEAR what is being said beyond the pain. SEE what is being shown to you beyond the walls we have created for survival. STUDY how we communicate the needs we have that we may not even realize exist because they were never provided or accessible. LEARN to appreciate how strong we are and how much we have to learn and grow when given a space to do so. ASK what you do not understand and how you can assist. It may take some time, but I promise we are worth the effort. Foster Youth are worthy of people who are willing to hear them. So what do I think of the importance of Foster Youth voice? Well we, the Foster Youth, have the most important voice when it comes to creating a safe space for ourselves and the rising 2.7 million children in care around the world.

Foster Youth voice should be seen as simply “voice” that is needed for communication, verbal or non-verbal expressions, necessary to understand what needs this human being has. Part of the reason why we became foster youth was because we spoke out and used our voice to communicate our environment or guardians were deemed unfit to take care of us. We were removed by adults who claim to want to protect, help, and “save” us. But how would any of that be possible if our voice was never heard or taken into consideration?

Youth voice should never be thought of as invalid, unimportant, or silenced. Our voice is essential to communicating our wants and needs. Youth voice is important because there is no scenario that I could think of where an individual’s voice would not be important. Every single voice is important. Any conversation had, case studied, decision made based off of statements, etc., were uniquely constructed by individual voices. If one voice is not involved, all of those examples above would be different.

Our voice is essential, critical, important, vital, and loud. I hope you hear me when I say, all voices are IMPORTANT.

Yesenia Anaya has spent the last few years in the work field as a Human Resources Manager for a fiber optics company. Recently, she has stepped away from that role and moved to Austin, Texas to pursue temporary job opportunities before returning to school.

Currently, she is an entertainment host, server, and All-Star Program Job Coach. After a three year break from school to find a better major for herself, she has finally decided to pursue a career geared towards advocacy and social work.

In her free time, she enjoys journaling, entertaining, traveling, and cuddling up to her pups, Winnie and Cheech. Yesenia was placed into the Michigan Foster Care System at the age of 12. She and her brother were granted a kinship placement before eventually being reunified with their mother. Today, she is actively involved in advocacy opportunities as they arise and is focused on using today to make a better tomorrow for all.

October 21, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

Youth Voice in Philanthropy: An idea whose time has come

Philanthropy plays a critical role in helping to address some of the most difficult challenges in American society. Yet foundations, like government, are far removed from the lives of those who are most impacted by these challenges, making it tough to know what investments will make the biggest difference in improving outcomes. Thankfully, foundations in the foster care space have come to understand that youth voice is essential to solving problems in the foster care system.

The Foster Care Workgroup of the Youth Transition Funders Group is a network of foundations investing in solutions to help young people make a successful transition to adulthood. When it comes to youth voice, our members are unequivocally committed to ensuring that young people are not only seen and heard, but that their insights and ideas are acted upon.

The YTFG Fellowship is a shining example of youth voice in philanthropy. The fellowship engages young people who have experienced the foster care or juvenile justice systems or have been disconnected from school or work to be involved in all aspects of the network activities. This includes presentations to our members, planning and facilitating meetings, and being involved in the development of publications. Members learn what our Fellows have to say about solutions to system challenges, and fellows can get to know our members and learn more about philanthropy. Fellows participate in a Philanthropy Project too, and are given a small pot of money they can use to give to causes they believe in. Several of our Fellows also sit on the YTFG Steering Committee and are involved in directing the overall work of the network.

Our members are also engaging youth voice in the work of their individual foundations. Examples include:

Hiring young people with lived experience for full time staff positions
Creating internships for young people who have had experience in foster care
Requiring grantees to engage youth voice in foundation funded projects, including policy, research and program innovations
Creating youth advisory boards to weigh in on foundation investments
Investing in youth advocacy organizations where youth voice is front and center in policy discussions
Providing young people with resources to invest in the things they care about

Maya Angelou once said “do the best you can until you know better; then when you know better, do better.” There’s no denying that youth voice is helping foundations do better, giving us all hope for the future of philanthropy.

Jennifer Miller is a social worker, child advocate, and founding partner of ChildFocus, a national child welfare consulting firm specializing in policy advocacy, philanthropic advising, technical assistance, and research and evaluation on behalf of children and families impacted by the child welfare system. At ChildFocus, the tagline is “connecting people, programs and policies”, reflecting the firm’s strongly held belief that their work is better and more effective when it’s informed directly by children and families and the community agencies and organizations that service them. ChildFocus facilitates the work of the Foster Care Workgroup and is honored to be in community with so many committed foundations. Jennifer has a B.A. in Political Science from St. Lawrence University, a Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and is a certified coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.

October 20, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

A Pluralistic Approach to Child Welfare

Through the advocacy work I do within my community, and across the state, I have learned the ingredients for effective youth-adult partnerships that drive sustainable policy and practice changes. The key component, which I have witnessed firsthand, is a pluralistic approach to dealing with the issues related to child welfare. The benefits of a pluralistic model are shared control, and EVERYONE feeling heard and valued. This model includes the professionals and youth with lived experience, not one without the other. It is also essential to keep in mind the degrees of youth participation, as demonstrated by Roger Hart’s research. Coming from a former foster youth who had experienced every level of involvement, I promise you this research is worth reading!

The first step towards effective youth-adult partnerships is mutual respect. Professionals should respect youths’ experiences for what they are, and youth should respect adults for their power in driving changes within the system. Both parties need one another for the most significant amount of impact on children and youth in care now and in the future. No one is trying to point fingers or place blame, however, favorable policy and practice changes cannot occur if people do not accept the issues that need addressing. Youth want to be heard and have their opinions taken into consideration on decisions directly impacting their lives or the lives of those that follow us.

Youth must be seen as organizational assets to community-based care agencies across Florida and can offer insight into the effectiveness of current policy and procedures. Who better to provide this feedback than the consumers of the system, youth with lived experience! Identifying areas of improvement and teaming up with system professionals is the best way for laws and systemic changes to occur. Companies hire employees because they are experts due to completing their fields of study. Former foster youth are experts in specific areas because they have the firsthand experience that most child welfare professionals lack. These experiences can help professionals make better decisions that impact a significant number of lives. When participating, there should be, in this mutually beneficial relationship, compensation for youth. This simple act shows youth how much you value their time and vulnerability in sharing their traumas.

Joining hands with One Voice IMPAACT’s initiatives has provided me with the training and support to take my advocacy to the next level. You can help make a change in your area or state-wide by doing any number of things, big or small. Everything counts! Joining a leadership council as a youth or supporting adult would help to ensure professionals hear our cries for help. Second, take a moment to step back and evaluate your current perspective of foster youth. How can you help prepare, equip, and support young leaders within your area? Lastly, help spread the word! Youth voice is a critical component for sustainable changes to policy and practices within the child welfare system. We can all learn from one another, but we must do it in a respectable manner where all parties feel heard and valued.

My name is Rayla James, I am twenty years old, and I currently live in Brevard County, Florida. I am a senior at the University of Central Florida working towards my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I advocate on both a local and state level, using my experiences in foster care to help others feel heard and inspire future resilient leaders.

October 19, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

Authentic Youth Engagement

I have been privileged to work for over 30 years in the service of children, youth and families. The health, wellbeing and safety of children and youth has been my passion starting with my work at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in 1992. As a young prosecutor, I worked with Domestic Violence Survivors and their children, prosecuting perpetrators of violence and seeking justice and accountability on behalf of those survivors. I went on to oversee the Human Trafficking Unit, the Juvenile Division and the Domestic Crimes Unit. It was there that I first experienced the power of youth voice born out of pain and strength. The youth that survived human trafficking, domestic violence, street gangs and so many other challenges spoke the language of trauma and resilience. Compelled to speak in courtrooms and deposition rooms to lawyers, judges and juries could be simultaneously cathartic and traumatic, for the youth. For those of us who engaged with them, it was unforgettable and impactful to hear their experiences and attempt to provide them with some relief and closure. There, the impact of their voice was often on the specific situation that brought them in contact with the Criminal Justice System. It would not be until later in my career that I would witness the power of youth voice in action to impact, not just a particular situation, but an entire complex system, made up of courts, government agencies, non-profits and elected officials.

In 2008 I joined the Florida Department of Children and Families where I served in several roles, including as Secretary. It was at the Department that I witnessed how youth not only told their personal lived experiences, but also provided valuable insight into how the professionals in child welfare impacted them both positively and negatively. Their honest assessments provided a road map to better the lives of other youth both presently in child welfare and for youth in child welfare in the future. It was a powerful combination of authentic engagement and incorporating voices of individuals with lived experience to drive positive system change. This authentic engagement amplifies the impact; giving voice to needed systems changes to be heard by lawmakers, agency heads, CEOs and our community.

That is why when I joined Citrus Family Care Network in 2019, and Citrus became the Community-Based Care Lead Agency in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties that same year, it was a top priority to establish a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) made up of teens and young adults currently or previously in foster care.

I am proud that we established our YAC in October 2019 with three overarching goals to:

Provide recommendations, input, and feedback to enhance or support Citrus FCN, in general, and, more specifically, our Youth Services Department.
Provide recommendations, input, and feedback to enhance or support delivery of services in the child welfare system of care.
Conduct outreach in the community to support Citrus FCN’s efforts to recruit foster and adoptive parents.

Our YAC has become an integral part of everything that we do. They recommend operational improvements, engage prospective foster and adoptive parents as well as Guardian ad Litem volunteers during training, participate in our Community-Based Care Alliance meetings, assist with planning events and initiatives for youth and families, conduct advocacy with elected officials locally and in Tallahassee, and they were a driving force in staring our Racial Equity and Inclusion initiative.

The list above only captures a fraction of their efforts. They have faced the challenges presented by the pandemic head on and have persevered to meet on a monthly basis to get stuff done and make things happen.

The work of our YAC has shown how remarkable our youth truly are, and how valuable their voices are.

Authentic youth engagement in child welfare is vitally important. Meaningful participation in policymaking and developing operational improvements validates the significance of their lived experience and encourages youth to be active participants in shaping their futures. Their feedback and suggestions are also key to making a difference for children and families involved in care currently and in the future. I have heard our YAC leader often refer to the youth currently and formerly in care as “our brothers and sisters.” There is a power to those words that is almost indescribable because the impact of the advocacy is fully felt in the processes and policies that we continue to improve to honor and serve the youth in our care. Their motivation to advocate is personal and born of the desire to improve the lives not only for themselves but for all of their brother and sisters in care.

By Esther Jacobo, Esq.

Esther Jacobo is the Director of Citrus Family Care Network, a division of Citrus Health Network, which serves as the Community Based Care Lead Agency for child welfare in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

Most recently, Ms. Jacobo served as Chief Assistant State Attorney for Operations at the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office serving under State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. She returned to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, where she started her legal career in 1992, in May of 2014. Ms. Jacobo had numerous responsibilities including the Human Trafficking Unit, Career Criminal Unit, Juvenile Division, Community Prosecutions and Media Relations. She was also responsible for a number of Felony Divisions.

Prior to re-joining the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Jacobo was the Secretary for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), a position to which she was appointed by Governor Scott. In this role, Ms. Jacobo managed a $3 billion budget and close to 12 thousand employees.

Ms. Jacobo earned her Law Degree from St. Thomas University in Miami in 1992. That same year, Janet Reno appointed her to the Miami- Dade State Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State Attorney. She served in several capacities. She litigated over 100 cases, including homicides and complex sexual batteries, of which over 60 were jury trials. Her assignments included Division Chief of the Domestic Crimes Unit, where she served before taking a position at the law firm of Elser & and Foster-Morales in 2007. Ms. Jacobo has dedicated her entire public service career to the safety and well-being of Florida’s children and families and her community.

October 18, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

Reframing Transition Age Youth

Who are transition-age foster youth? Transition age foster youth are young people between the ages of 16 and 23 who are transitioning out of the foster care system…

October 17, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

Using Our Voices to Create Change

I spent half of my life in the foster care system. I’ve mostly been in kinship care and ended up aging out of a group home. I never really had a say on where I wanted to be placed, or if I was comfortable with where I was going to go. I always felt as though I was just told what to do and never had too much to say.

By the time I was 16 years old, I had learned that youth in the foster care system had rights and had voices. I spent time advocating not only for myself, but for other youth. I wanted other youth to know that they had a voice, and that they were able to use their voice just like I was able to once I learned I could.

Foster youth voices are very important because not only is being in the foster care system hard, but you also feel as though you don’t have a say in what happens in your own life. Youth should be able to know what they can be involved with in their cases so they can speak out about their needs and wants. I learned how to use my voice, and I want others to be able to do so as well.

I also think that foster youth voices are important because if we have enough youth who are willing to use their voices to make improvements to the system, we can help reshape the foster care system. Once we are able to make that change within the foster care system, other youth will not have endured what most of us had to. Youth in the foster care system already feel that their lives are not their own. Especially with the stigmatization of being a foster youth.

By speaking up and using their voice, youth are able to take control of their own lives and not be caught in all of the stigmatizing. I know from personal experience I felt I was just another statistic until I learned that I do have my own voice, and that other youth in the system feel the same as I did. I was able to find amazing organizations that actually cared about youth and wanted to uplift them–organizations that taught youth many other skills, such as teaching and redirecting conversation that can be triggering to themselves and others.

FosterClub made me realize that youth in the foster care system’s voice is very important and that my voice, as well as other youth in the system, can help make a change. I want other youth who feel as though they aren’t seen, or that their voices don’t matter to know that they do matter, they matter a lot in fact. Their voice matters, and by speaking up they will help make a difference as long as they are willing to make their voices heard.

We hope you are supporting Foster Youth Voice Month by sharing our blogs and social media posts! One Voice IMPAACT is publishing 30 blogs to help raise the profile of youth with lived experience in Florida’s foster care system. We hope that this will be of value to child welfare professionals and youth advocates. Be sure to sign the Youth Voice Pledge here to show your support.

By Dion Stump, 18, of Montana’s Foster Care System

Dion experienced three kinship/relative placements that did not work out. The system found an alternative placement at a group home and she stayed there for almost two years. During her senior year, she graduated a semester early and during her transition, she received resource support from the independent living program and is now successfully living independently.

She is currently attending Great Falls Montana State University, where she will graduate with an Associate of Arts degree by next fall. Along with that, she recently joined the Air Force JROTC and very active with the state advisory board, where she enjoys advocating and providing her expertise. Her future goals are to join the Air Force or either become a social worker or nurse.

Dion finds purpose in giving back to her foster care community. She would like foster youth to know that they are not alone. She hopes to be a supportive adult to youth in care, for she knows the positive impact a supportive adult could have in the life of a young person.

October 16, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

My Inspiration

My name is Bianca Feliciano, and I am here to tell you about my biggest influence prior to foster care. When I was about fifteen years old, me and my three siblings were removed from my parents due to neglect. At the time I felt confused, mad, and afraid all at the same time.

There were so many people surrounding my once family and I was met by my case manager who turned out to be the most influential women in my life. At first, I was just so angry at everything that was happening before me that when she approached me, I lashed out. She understood and we gave each other boundaries.

My case manager went ABOVE and BEYOND for me and my siblings. She was the mother I never had, and I never could find before. She listened to my every need and always sought out what was the best in my interest. She advocated for my beliefs and gave me a voice and I can never repay her. I am thankful for all the child welfare workers who have come into my life and shaped me into being the person I am today.

We hope you are supporting Foster Youth Voice Month by sharing our blogs and social media posts! One Voice IMPAACT is publishing 30 blogs to help raise the profile of youth with lived experience in Florida’s foster care system. We hope that this will be of value to child welfare professionals and youth advocates. Be sure to sign the Youth Voice Pledge here to show your support.

My name is Bianca Feliciano. I am a 22-year-old college student studying Social Services at St. Petersburg College. I have a license in Cosmetology that I earned this year and two years of dental hygiene at State College of Florida. I love spending time with my family and watching A LOT of Netflix. I love ALL sorts of animals, and I also paint from time to time. I started being involved with OVI this year and I absolutely enjoy OVI. I love the training we do to help us better understand how to make change in our community. In my future I hope to work with children and youth in the system. I want to be able to make a difference in every family I come across. I am very excited for my future!

October 15, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

The Art of Listening to Youth

Today’s blog post is guest authored by Larry Rein, Larry Rein, President & CEO of ChildNet, lead child welfare agency in Broward & Palm Beach Counties….

October 14, 2021 By fosteryouthvoicemonth

Listen to Connect

All people want to be seen, heard, and valued. We want to be deeply heard to meet our need for connection. As a system of care, we are always talking about the concept of youth engagement and improving communication methods to keep youth plugged in. Well, I think as a system it’s time to stop talking and start doing more listening. We need to listen to be able to make or maintain the connections we have with youth involved in the child welfare system. I know. It seems so simple, but I’m convinced that reflective listening is the communication strategy that will establish and improve the relationships we have with our youth.

If we couple this approach within local youth councils, youth will not just voice their complaints and frustrations but they will strategically share their lived experiences. Youth councils operating in partnership with child welfare professionals and leaders, where everyone, and I mean everyone, is seen and heard. This not only creates an atmosphere of empathy but also one of transformation.

If we want to transform the system and more importantly the lives of those impacted for the better, then we must connect. We need to intentionally create time and space to meet and reflectively listen to one another. Transformational relationships are the cornerstone for any youth engagement initiative, like youth councils. If you are not already participating or supporting a youth council in your community, this message is specifically made for you. If you are a youth with lived experience or a youth voice advocate, contact me and I can help get you connected to a local council.

Brandie McCabe is the Director of Youth Initiatives for the Selfless Love Foundation and Chair of Florida’s statutorily mandated Independent Living Services Advisory Council. Formerly the statewide Youth and Young Adult Transition Services Specialist with Florida Department of Children and Families in the Office of Child Welfare, Brandie has dedicated over 16 years to serving vulnerable children and young adults. Through various positions held in both the state and private sector, she has effectively led and executed statewide programs and projects. Brandie holds a B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University and a Child Welfare Protective Investigator Certification.

Brandie can be reached at [email protected].