This Issue’s In This Edition Contributors Black Children in Foster Care Foster Focus Contributor Florence Edwards shares the experience of black youth in foster care with Foster Focus readers. 14

Cal State LA Grad On a Great Path A former foster kid, graduating is on the way to Purdue University from Cal State LA to pursue a passion in Florence 17 robotics. Learn more about the quest. Edwards

New Player on the Scene in Michigan CEO of a new Michigan non-profit geared toward helpoing foster youth, Kristyn Peck, comes to the pages of Foster Focus to share the new venture. 18

California State Homeless Foster Youth Crisis in L.A. University, Los Angeles Friends of Foster Focus; Youth Today sent over a story of importance from the L.A. Bureau. Lauren Lee White 22 shares information on L.A.’s homeless crisis.

GAPS: Foster Care’s Oral Health Issue A trio of students from Southern Indiana University have compiled a report on foster care’s growing oral Kristyn health problem. Read their findings. 26 Peck

Lauren Lee White

Brooke Teike Emily Wonnell Rachel Louviere Meet the Team

Owner/Creator/Editor Chris Chmielewski

Fullfilment Coordinator Trisha Chmielewski

Additional Editing/Design/Photos 6 8 Carolyn Walker

Columnists Rhonda Sciortino Sandie Morgan Chris Zollner Richard Villasana Chris Chmielewski

Section Partners 10 12 A Family For Every Child Cenpatico

Advertising Sales Chris Chmielewski [email protected] (570)-538-3608

Print House Bayard Printing 24 1 Maynard Street Williamsport, PA 17701 www.bayardprinting.com

Subscription costs $34.95 one year print $30.95 one year print* (online) $20.00 one year digital* (online) 28 *subscriptions available online only www.FosterFocusMag.com/subscriptions

Publisher www.FosterFocusMag.com Foster Focus Magazine 608 Main Street Watsontown, PA 17777 Foster Focus ; A Monthly Look at the Foster Care Industry, is a Foster Focus (570)-538-3608 LLC production. Foster Focus is an unbiased editorial/news publication, there are www.FosterFocusMag.com no affiliations with any groups (religious, political etc.) information obtained in Foster Focus should not be considered as a resource for pending court cases. The views expressed by Columnists, Contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the views of Foster Focus or Editor, Chris Chmielewski. Sometimes I’ll make a cover for an actual cover story. Other times, I’m exploring an idea. Generally, I explore that idea in these Editor’s Notes (is it pretentious to capitalize editor’s notes? Too stuffy and formal for me, but it is a column title…anyway.).

Other magazines don’t really do it that way. The cover is meant to reflect a cover story. I’m not other magazines (that comes off sounding weird, huh? Oh, we’re doing thought bubbles in the form of parenthesis comments. Now you know. Think Scrubs. I’m J.D. in this scenario. Okay, back to it.). I spent my own money on this the first year and decided then to do things whichever way I saw fit. I gave myself permission to color outside the lines (super strange when someone from America adds a “u” to write colour, right?). In This And one of those choices was to not always run a cover for a specific story.

Edition: I’m artsy, folks. It’s who I am. This is my canvas. I will bring abstract visuals to my can - vas when the mood strikes me. But I have reasons (foster kid thing, constantly justifying Blah, Blah, Blah my decisions). and I love covers. Have my whole life (for real, had stacks of magazines in my room as a kid Papa Black and through college. This is BEFORE Hoarders, people!). I love to make them. Love to look at them. Love when they move me. But here’s why I wander off the trail; as a Journalist (damn, that is pretentious.), you are taught to get to the point with your visuals. I’ll give you an example; Sports Illustrated covering a league strike, any league, is going to run a cover of a picket line or a face screaming in rebellion. That’s what they’re sup - posed to do. That’s how it’s always been. My cover would have been of an empty sports stadium as the sun sets behind it. That would move me. That would allow the art to do the work. A headline can still be in play, but it isn’t needed. Get it? (do you ever wonder if I’m sitting over here waiting for you to answer me? I’m not. That would be weird. Come on, stay on task!)

For this issue, I went kind of simple. A pocket watch. Time. My eagerness for everyone to stop talking and start doing something. Pretty direct, for me anyway. You see, I’m Chris Chmielewski is the Creator, Owner and bored. I’m bored with all the jibber jabber (Mr. T! Found a way to work Mr. T into the Editor of Foster Focus Magazine, America's mag. That only took 7 full years). only monthly foster care magazine. He spent five years in foster care before aging out. He This is the last issue of the 7th year of Foster Focus. In that time, I’ve heard SO MUCH created Foster Focus so that others in care talk. My ADHD aside, I’m bored with it. The same keywords and phrases. The same (not would have the most up to date information. so) hot button issues. Discussing the same damn problems while offering no workable The magazine has consistently grown as Chris solutions. SO BORING. All these years and only a handful of actual changes. is entering his sixth year of the magazine. He has interviewed celebrities such as Maia Mitchell and Jimmy Graham. And writers from You can still play Qbert on the computer software our industry uses. We are antiquated. all over the country contribute articles to the We are tired. We are oftentimes unsuccessful with our primary job of protecting magazine, making it one of the leading sources America’s youth. And, depending on what political party is control, slow with money of foster care news and information in the and ideas for change. Politically, they are all in agreement that protection is needed, but country. how much to invest and what favors need to change hands, makes for a slow-moving system (again, Qbert!). All that hard work by the advocates? Dies on the floor of what - ever congressional or senate floor it finds itself (weird that you don’t have to capitalize those though, right? English is tricky.).

6 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com proud. Constantly. This magazine made platform to right that wrong and honor a STOP him proud of me. It’s one of the larger rea - man worth honoring. sons I keep going. As I often do, I started this early in the Okay. If I keep going down this road, I’m month, got pulled away and came back to Those talks at his table weren’t life altering, bound to fall into another one of my finish it. If I was pissy before (awesome deep insights into the human psyche. They depression spells. Let’s talk about this great thought bubbles aside), I’m Roseanne on were a Dad talking to his kid about nothing issue instead. (I apologize for being all over Ambien fed up with the world now. My in particular. the place, but it is rare that I ever grieve. damn Dad died. I’m not sure exactly how to do it.) I started this with a litany of motivators. I made the point I wanted to make in the There were things I wanted to accomplish, This issue has some great topics that I’ve beginning; I’m sick of all the talk and we people I wanted to prove wrong and one had yet to touch on in the 7 years the mag - need to start implementing some of this man I wanted to prove right. I’ve done all azine has been in circulation. The plight of rhetoric or shut up about it. But my Dad that now. Impressing my Dad was the last the black youth in foster care is something died, and I can’t think about anything else. real thrill that kept me driven. He’s gone I’ve barely scratched the surface of. I’m going to write about that now. I might now, and I must find a new touchstone. Fortunately, Florence Edwards has helped come back sometime and get into a bit correct that lack of coverage. My goal is to more detail about why all the talk needs to He was such a good dude. Maybe my new bring every aspect of care in front of your end, but for now, I want to write about my goal should be as loved as he was. eyes. I don’t always do the best job of it. It foster father, my Dad. takes time to cover the many offshoots of You’re going to learn all about him in this care, I hope I can get to them all. Here at the end of Year 7, I’m tired, I’m issue. I took over Mr. Villasana’s column. broke and I’m burnt out. I continue to fight There you will find the eulogy I intended to In that vein, a trio of Southern Indiana the good fight, but the chips are stacked read. When the moment came, I got up University students reached out with a against me. One of the last motivators for there and turned to Jell-O. My scoliosis great piece about foster care’s poor atten - doing any of this was the man I would sit kicked into hyperdrive and my legs began tion to oral health. What a great topic to across the dinner table as often as I could. to shake in a way I’ve grown accustom. I cover. It’s really well done. Lucky to have Richard L. Black was/is my foster Dad. For have been good about keeping this part of it in the magazine. There are other great about 25 years now, I’ve been “Chrissy” my life behind closed doors, but there was articles as well, but I’ve taken up enough who is 15 years old. Some people take you nothing I could do. The moment consumed space with my incohesive rambling. Best I back to a place in your life every time you me. I managed to get a lot of the things I let you get to it. see them. He was that person for me. A wanted to say out, but they weren’t deliv - touchstone. I would revert to his kid when - ered by the national speaker I’m supposed Thanks for reading the magazine my Dad ever he was around. I wanted to make him to be. So, I’m taking advantage of my other liked. By Pamla Manazer

In 1970, local police organizations, in concert with various city charters, introduced the Neighborhood Watch program. These neighborhood associations typically involved recruiting residents to participate in community meetings and various surveillance tasks around properties and common areas they considered, “their own.” Often a block cap - tain and coordinator would take a leadership role and serve as liaisons to the local police. These programs were very successful because with a minimum of instruction and train - ing, local police departments were able to reach out to people like you and me and ask for help.

This almost instantly allowed local law enforcement to cast a wider net around behaviors In This that could be compromise neighborhood safety. None of those recruited carried a gun or Edition: could make life changing decisions for their community as this was merely “law enforce - ment reinforcement.” Love A big key to the success of the Neighborhood Watch program was the ability of the is police organization to answer a question that arose time and time again at community Action meetings by John Q. Citizen, “What can I do to help? I’m not a policeman?”

With an agreed upon blueprint, people were able to help their communities by assisting law enforcement with in-place oversight, creating a win-win scenario. Appropriate parts of police coverage were expanded by minimally instructed non-police professionals, rewarded simply by their passion to contribute to safer communities. People felt safer, law enforcement felt better understood, and this self-propagating program it is still work - ing decades later.

If only there was a program, a blueprint like the one offered through Neighborhood Watch, that could bring together, under appropriate oversight, the loving and willing peo - Rhonda Sciortino, author of Succeed Because ple who have responded to the plea for help surrounding the human trafficking epidemic of What You've Been Through, is the National in which we now find ourselves. The same questions are being repeatedly asked: “What Child Welfare Specialist for Markel Insurance Company. Rhonda is a foster alum who chairs can I do to help?” the Successful Survivors Foundation and serves as a spokesperson for Foster Care Look no further: The LOVE IS ACTION COMMUNITY INITIATIVE is just such a Alumni of America. Her weekly radio show can blueprint. Anchored by stakeholders in the community and staffed with everyone from be heard at the woman who wants to bake a birthday cake to the mechanic who can offer a fee oil change to a foster parent, we can change lives.

www.RHONDA.org By offering our blueprint to already in place organizations that agree to be Love Is Action Champions in their area, Successful Survivors Foundation can guide them in engaging the community in support of the good work they already do so well. At the same time, their dream of expanding their reach to include people, businesses, houses of worship, and civic groups that are just waiting to be given a “No Big Deal” task, becomes a reality. The Love is Action Community Initiative blueprint helps identify and then connect a per - son’s, “No Big Deal” where its needed most!

Do you know what your “No Big Deal” is? More importantly, do you know where it is desperately needed? Visit our website to find out what you’ve been missing. You might be the Love Is Action Champion who is needed in your community. Dr. Sandie Morgan , Ph.D., is Director of Vanguard University’s Global Center for Please join us at: www.loveisactioncommunityinitiative.org for details. Women and Justice, overseeing the Women’s Studies Minor, as well as teaching Family About the author: Pamla Manazer serves as the Executive Director of the Successful Violence and Human Trafficking and produc - Survivors Foundation, which is behind the volunteer-led, professional overseen LOVE ing the Ending Human Trafficking Podcast. IS ACTION COMMUNITY INITIATIVE. Sandie's background as a Pediatric Nurse brought her into contact with her first victim You can contact Pamla at [email protected] or at (949) 307-6067. of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. She is committed to equipping our communities to be a safer place for vulnerable youth.

Live2Free.org 8 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com

I opened up a can of worms… I hate that cliché, but sometimes it fits. I had the idea that I could compress mistakes foster parents make into a single, thirteen hundred-word essay. It turned into three essays, and perhaps someone out there with more energy and patience than me could turn it into a book. (Or maybe I’ll break my leg—with my driving that is not an unrealistic expectation—and have nothing to do for weeks, and I’ll do it myself). Here is the final installment.

History…

Be careful about believing everything in a child’s files, but don’t ignore them. As a teacher, I have to check out each student’s cumulative folder, but I don’t want it to prej - udice me. For example, another teacher might label a child as a discipline problem when I might see them as easily distracted. The same thing can happen with foster care. A In This youngster might be in the care of a family that practically runs a boot camp. These par - Edition: ents may report that the child is aggressive when rambunctious may be a better term. The other adults may observe one negative incident and make outrageous generalizations. Foster Sometimes a foster parent and child are not a good fit. This disconnect may surface in Parenting Missteps the reports that remain in a case file. There could even be a person, object of event that Part 3 will trigger bad memories in a child. A foster dad or relative may resemble a predator who made a child’s life hell. The confused, traumatized youngster may act out in unex - pected, extreme ways. A brother in law could show up for dinner, he could be the nicest guy in three counties, but since he has a goatee and a red jacket like a monster in the child’s past, the youngster may be triggered into a flashback of sorts and begin throwing glasses and plates.

There may be times when you are glad to read those files. The records may reveal that a child has been sexually active or sexually acting out. The child may have a history of predatory behavior toward other children. They may have severe physical problems that require extra medical equipment.

I wish I had a simple rule, so here’s a complicated one: Look at the files, but trust your Chris Zollner was involved in foster own observations too. care for six years. Splashing Cow Books published his picture book, Not Being Prepared Secret of the Shadow. Ostensibly a humorous take on Groundhog Day, You must be physically ready, and more importantly, psychologically ready. I knew fam - this book is a thinly-veiled work of ilies that kept a compact second-hand wardrobe that accommodated all the genders and propaganda, in which he exhorts ages. If you take babies, you will need a crib, a basinet and various sized diapers, includ - grade school kids to pursue a career ing preemie diapers. Store some formula specifically for lactose intolerant infants and in science. keep a little baby cereal on hand in case they have trouble drinking formula without a few flakes added to thicken the consistency. (Try splashingcowstore.com. Click on Picture Books and you'll see it). His That’s the easy part. The hard part is being psychologically prepared. Are your expecta - foster-themed children's book, Jenna, tions real, or are they based on observations of nice, middle-class kids who have never will be published by Splashing Cow later this year. experienced trauma? Expect a wild ride and some eye-opening moments.

There are almost half a million chil - Support System dren in foster care in the United States, yet the subject remains a liter - You can’t do it alone. Ally yourself with some trusted friends and relatives. Some coun - ary desert. ties have foster care support groups. We initially attended one such group because it pro - vided training hours, but we found other benefits. Sometimes it is a relief to talk to others who share the same madness. I’m not the only one. They’ve been there too! They have some good solutions to common problems.

We had relatives who helped baby-sit when we needed a night out. (We are basically homebodies, but we needed to get away for a night or two). A kindergarten teacher friend of mine became a surrogate aunt to my adopted daughter. She came over to babysit or just to visit and take April for a walk. She even made her a quilt with her initials embroi - dered into the corner.

Some businesses give discounts to foster parents. Check with county CPS workers and the local foster family associations for information. 10 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com It’s wonderful to have a support team. [By your work or be yourself without it. Foster parents often ignore signs of exhaustion and the way, all of the relatives who babysat for fail to ask for help when needed. You cannot give the children in your life the care that they us later did foster care. Two of them adopt - need if you are running on empty. Put your oxygen mask on first. ed kids]. A shout out to those giving me advice on this particular column: Liz Hunter, Document Everything (twitter.com/lizzysnoise), Ashley Rhodes-Courter (rhodes-courter.com), Rhonda Sciortino , (www.rhondasciortino.com Check out her videos about communication with We kept a separate notepad to take notes foster kids: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6MYCsFQzDCmw-GCi-z6m1AX51e- about each child, no matter how long they 03pfu), Irene Clements (www.nfpaonline.org) and Trisha Kay Surbrug Adams . were with us. Take photos and keep your social workers informed about any new And others, lurking in the background, who do not wish to be mentioned. (All hail, the developments with the child or the biologi - lurkers)! cal parents. You never know when you will be required to testify or report abuse. You may need to protect the child, and you might have to guard yourself.

The Messiah Complex

We want to save the world. It’s not a bad idea, but that doesn’t make it easy.

We got into foster care to make the world a better place. Let’s make sure we don’t lose our minds or make others lose theirs in the process. If you feel that certainty that you can solve everything, then stop it right now. You can drive your family, both biological and foster, to despair that way.

You cannot control how others think and react or how well you can impart coping skills. The birth parents will break your heart on occasion, often when they were doing so well! Oh no! Not another relapse.

Know your limits. You might not be able to handle them all. Some people take only children under the age of ten. We only took in infants up to two years of age. Others stick to teens because they relate to them better. Special needs children with physi - cal, psychological or family problems are not for everybody, and even if you can han - dle one special needs child, that doesn’t mean you can handle two. Your family and loved ones may have their limits as well. The foster kids in your care may have their limitations too. You may have so many good ideas and ambitions for them—noth - ing wrong with that! Be careful that you don’t overburden them by expecting them to improve too quickly.

One Final Note

Don’t let yourself get too run down. The overwhelm factor involved in this endeavor is incredible. The stressors can be physical as well as emotional. Steal some moments to rest, meditate, pray, do primal scream therapy or whatever works for you. You deserve a little peace of mind. You can’t do www.FosterFocusMag.com Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 11 In This Edition: Editor Takeover: My Father; The Hero My foster Father, Richard L. Black was born May 8 1943. He lived an amazing 75 years, going homr May 21, 2018. He was my hero.He was my moral compass. He was the answer on the other end of the phone line whenever I needed him. He was my friend. I stood to give this eulogy at his funeral, but the words wouldn’t come out. My name is Chris Chmielewski. Thanks to the lessons learned from the man we are gath - ered to celebrate I am also a Husband, a father of 3, a national speaker, an aspiring com - edy writer and the Editor of a foster care magazine called Foster Focus.

I have had and still have only 5 role models or heroes in my life, since the age of 15 they Richard Villasana , a proud Navy veteran, is a are, in order; Richard Black, George Carlin, John Kennedy, Kurt Cobain and Ernest leading international authority on reuniting chil - Hemingway. dren in U.S. foster care with their relatives. Villasana is an author and international speaker who has been featured by the San Diego Business I am fortunate to have lived with one of my heroes and to call him my father. Journal, the Union-Tribune Radio Network show, San Diego Finest Business Radio, and EFE, the I came to his home when I was 14. I was cocky. I was a hustler. I was a lost kid. world’s largest Spanish language media company. He is the founder of Forever Homes for Foster Kids. For more than 20 years, the organization I’ve told a few audiences full of foster care professionals this story, but I’d like to share has been building stronger families and communi - it with you. ties by locating relatives of foster children so they can move out of foster care into forever homes. I was excited when I met Dick and Maxine Black, as they were introduced to me. They were old! I thought for sure this would be a foster care home I could run. I was wrong. Forever Homes for Foster Kids has handled fos - ter care cases for several agencies and nonprofits They were firm but fair. Treated me like I was one of their own. including Casey Family Programs, Seneca Center and CASA of Travis County in Texas. I really enjoyed making them both happy. I remember working an afterschool job and the fella couldn’t pay me that week but he gave me WWE tickets, nosebleeds. I rushed home Villasana’s insights on locating families have and told Dad that I had gotten him two tickets to watch wrestling, it was a passion we been taught to social workers around the country. shared. The show was held too late for me to attend and even though they were maybe He specializes in cross-cultural and “family find - ing” training for universities, social service agen - the worst seats in the venue I was so proud to give him those tickets. And he smiled like cies and nonprofits. To have Villasana speak to he was happy to receive them. I hope he upgraded to better seats. I was so happy he went your company, school or association, email him and bursting with the knowledge that I’d made him happy. at [email protected]. He’s been a constant in my life. I’ve tried to honor him as often as I can. Visit www.ForeverHomesforFosterKids.org to become part of the growing number of supporters of foster children because every child deserves a In the magazine, a few years ago, I wrote the following: forever home and a happier, healthier life. Contact Richard via email at I have the good fortune of meeting and speaking with hundreds of truly loving foster par - [email protected] ents each year. My affinity for great foster parents is well documented. My disdain for those who abuse the privilege of being the caregivers for the country’s most fragile Join Richard on Facebook: resource is also well documented. www.facebook.com/richardvillasana My story begins and ends with the quality of foster parents I was provided with. Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardvillasana I was an angry kid when I showed up on the doorstep of Richard and Maxine Black. I 12 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com stood there judging them as day turned to rather than lecturing. A friend after a while Some of you knew him as a bowler. I’m night. Cigarette hanging from my mouth, and someone you shared your problems sorry he beat you so many times but the torn Nirvana shirt on my chest and angry with. Mr. Black was a solid man. He had man was nice on the pine planks. music blaring through the headphones that worked hard his whole life and you could wrapped my face. I peered at them through tell. He had a soft face and a barrel-chested Some of you knew him as a fishing buddy. the greasy strands of hair that covered my body. I would tease him later that someone Lucky you. I heard about all the arm length eyes. They smiled. I stared through them as had put Kenny Rogers’ face on George fish you’ve caught with him over the years. they sat me down at their dinner table. They “The Animal” Steele’s body. He spoke very Some of you knew him as a hunting pal. smiled. I sighed and rolled my eyes as they rarely but when he did there was thought You too have amazing memories of morn - went over the rules of the house. They behind it and you took it to heart. At dinner ings freezing your tails off. Sorry, not a smiled. I kept quiet as they tried to pry that night he would say something that hunter. information from me. They smiled. I would change the course of my life. stomped from the room and out the door Some of you rode motorcycles with him when I was told I was dismissed. They “Because of where you are, the hand throughout his life. My favorite Maxine smiled. you’ve been dealt, you need to work three story is one where she saw Dad pull up the times harder than anyone else in the room.” big hill on Turbot Ave in Milton into their Then something happened. They handed driveway and her stomach fluttered with me a basketball and told me what time to It was a simple, firm, direct message. No butterflies. Isn’t that nice? They’d been come back. one was going to give me a thing. These married for a while at that point and still people would be there to protect me and felt that way about each other. It was the dead of winter when I walked out steer me in the right direction but the the door. I asked for a shovel and directions responsibility of becoming a quality person I’m sure I don’t know all the aspects of this to the nearest basketball court. I didn’t look would fall on my shoulders. They taught versatile man. He was, as I said, so many back when I left that first day. I thought me work ethic, they taught me patience, things to so many people. Not bad for a guy about running away. I thought about how I they taught me to care about myself. They who could be found every night at the din - got to this strange place, this strange town. taught me how to be a man I could be proud ner table with us like clockwork. I thought about how damn cold I was. I of. shoveled off half of the court and warmed Some of you are fortunate enough to call my hands. The music pumping into my That became what a good foster parent him family. head was angry but I was becoming less so. meant to me. It’s my measuring stick. The ball bounced on the frozen ground and To his children, he adored all of you. I under the shine of a lone street light, I shot People seemed to like that. I was proud to strove to be the type of people you were, in and I shot and I shot. I shot until my arms have written it. the hopes he would care about me the same couldn’t support the ball anymore. I shot way he cared for you. To his grandchildren, until the tears on my face had become ici - Before I leave you. I wanted to extend a the joy you brought to his life is immeasur - cles. I shot until I forgot who I was. thought I’ve had while trying to think of the able. I was lucky to watch most of you right words to honor the man who taught grow up and I can tell you he beamed with I walked back into the door of that foreign me to live with integrity. Who taught me pride when he spoke of all of you. To his house, dirty, tired, and less angry but still what a work ethic looked like. Who many, many, many, many foster sons and I not ready to talk to anyone. They smiled. I showed me what love for your wife and think one or two foster daughters, he loved was shown my room that I would share family looked like. The man that I would us. He loved to teach us. Loved when we with a kid who looked angrier than I did. I spend the rest of my life measuring myself figured out things on our own. He loved was shown the shower, my bed and a place against. “Would Dad be cool with this?” Is when we did well, loved when we achieved to throw my garbage bag that contained a question I ask myself at least 20 times a things we went after. If you are one of us, what was left of my life. An insomniac day. What do you say about the man who you know he was one of a handful of peo - slept that night. would be your moral compass? I think I ple who believed in you when no one else will say what I feel. did. The next day found me more susceptible to questions and more open to speaking to My best friend died while I was in college. I’m sad my Dad is gone. I’m proud that he these new people around me. I got familiar At his gathering, dozens of people spoke of was proud of me. One of the last things he with the two teen boys I’d spend the next him as if they were also his best friend. said to me was “I read your magazine. It’s couple of years with, there would be plenty Because of moments and experiences, they good. I’m proud of you.” more over my five years in the house. I had shared with him, they swore they were began to feel the warmth of the matriarch his best friend. I always thought that was a I win awards. I talk to celebrities and gov - of the household. The Blacks were in their great testament to a life well lived. ernment officials whose names you would mid-50s when I became their son. They know, I’ve had childhood idols tell me they were a warm, hardworking, robust couple I can see that Dad had that same impact. He like my work, but none of those things with enough personality to keep the interest was so many things to so many people. meant more than Papa Black taking the and respect of angry teenagers. Maxine was time to tell me he was proud of me. I will and is a boisterous woman with an ease Some of you knew him as a co-worker. I carry that with me always. Thank you for about her that translated into an ability to don’t need you to tell you about his work coming to say goodbye to one of the great - knock down a person’s walls. She was ethic. est men, you or I will ever know. attentive and caring. Prone to listening www.FosterFocusMag.com Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 13 Black Children in Foster Care: The Struggle is Real, But So Is Hope

By Florence Edwards Foster Focus Contributor What do The Game, Keyshia Cole, Malcolm X and Ice-T all have in common? They all care, I might be dead or have killed some - once represented thousands of voiceless, innocent Black children in the foster youth sys - one. Foster care saved my life from the tem. According to the Department of Children and Family Services, Black children brutal child abuse. As an innocent child, I account for eight out of 100 Los Angeles County children, but comprise 28 out of 100 fos - paid the price for my parents’ rage and self - ter children. ish mistakes. I credit my loving foster par - ents who worked with me over the years For many Black foster children, foster care is their only hope to survive abuse, poverty and and helped me transform my bad behaviors homelessness. For National Foster Care Month, I want to honor our hardworking foster (from child abuse) into great behaviors. parents, social workers, children’s advocates and other professionals who continue to Foster care saved me from a life of child make a difference on behalf of neglected African American children. Although the media abuse.” often paints a horrifying picture about foster care, it can be the difference between life and death for many Black children. It was for me. 3 Powerful Lessons Foster Care Taught Me That Changed My Life Dying and Abandoned: How My Foster Mother Saved My Life Being in foster care was a blessing in dis - My biological mom was a poor, abused teenager who was six and a half months pregnant guise. Although I was placed in foster care when she gave birth to me. Malnourished and suffering from chronic asthma, that nearly again at the age of 13, it gave me courage, cost me my life, I was left in the hospital because my parents didn’t want me. Weighing compassion, and the resolve to never give one pound and a-quarter, doctors didn’t expect me to live. I was so tiny that I could fit in up. Not only did I learn to thrive academi - the palm of a hand. cally despite abuse and neglect, I also learned how to be resilient and create sup - Ms. Fisher, a nurse working at Loma Linda Hospital, was told that a sick baby girl had portive relationships. been abandoned and was asked if she would care for me. Without giving it a second thought, Ms. Fisher took me into her home and heart, and slowly nursed me back to health. • I Learned to Connect: Living in a home We attended church regularly. I had clean clothes, a nice bed, toys and nutritious meals. with five or six other youth who have been In addition to providing all of those wonderful things, she gave me something far more abandoned and traumatized did not come important: Love. I remember Ms. Fisher smiling at me, singing to me when I was in dis - easy for me. I was used to being an only tress and gently holding me. For the first time in my young life, I formed a bond that is child, and was used to hiding from the still with me to this day. When I was 2 years old, I was placed in my mother’s care. world. Being in foster care forced me to learn valuable social skills and how to form Even though Ms. Fisher was unable to adopt me like she planned, there is no question that positive relationships. In one of the first her love, compassion and dedication carried me through some of my darkest moments, group homes I lived in, I befriended a even after being removed from her home as a toddler many years earlier. God-fearing, and teenage girl whose mother was murdered always joyous, Ms. Fisher was the first person who taught me that I mattered, and that I by Richard Ramirez, also known as The was worthy of being cared for. Night Stalker. Although our time was short, we were able to form a solid friendship that Having a good foster parent is priceless to a traumatized child. They are not only providing taught us how to connect with others. essential necessities such as a home, food and toiletry items, but are also providing a sense of safety, connection and validation, which are all necessary for children to thrive. All chil - • I Learned to Make Better Choices: Living dren need and deserve love and support, but Black children, who are often victims of vio - in various homes and being around other lent crimes, need additional guidance and support that will help them become successful foster children gave me insight on how teens and young adults. unresolved trauma and abuse can destroy lives if left untreated. Some foster kids ran According to The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, Black youth are away, got pregnant, were abusing drugs, three times more likely to be victims of reported child abuse or neglect, three times more involved in gang activity and having rela - likely to be victims of robbery, and five times more likely to be victims of homicide. tions with adults at very young ages. I wit - nessed the consequences of their actions, As a foster parent, you can give a child from a broken home the chance to know what and silently vowed that I would do better. I being a part of a real family feels like. You can also help them create a positive self-identity decided to escape my pain through school that can help them live empowered and abundant lives. and excelled academically. I strived for success in everything that I did, and tried to Former foster youth, now motivational speaker, Derek Clark, said, “If it wasn’t for foster keep myself motivated, even through my 14 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com tears and sleepless nights.

• I Learned How to Trust: Throughout my entire foster care journey, one of the things that I truly valued the most was having access to a female mentor. Although this lasted a couple of months, it helped me on my journey. When I was feeling sad, dis - couraged or dealing with my abandonment issues, my mentor’s guidance and attention helped me feel hopeful. She helped me believe that I could trust adults again and that there were people in the world who truly cared.

If you are considering becoming a foster parent, now is the time to give your love to a child in need. There are thousands of neg - lected African American children who need loving homes from people who truly care. Please find out more about how you can help save a child’s life today, by contacting your local foster care agency.

Florence Edwards holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communications. She is the Foster Care Marketing Specialist for Trinity Youth Services, a foster and adop - tions agency based in Southern California.

To learn how to foster or adopt a child, please visit www.Trinityys.org , or contact Florence directly at [email protected], or 909-825-5588, ext. 230. YOUR SON HAS ASKED A CALCULUS QUESTION Y O U D O N ’ T UNDERSTAND AT ALL

Do you:

(A) Create a diversion.

(B) Look up the answer on your phone but pretend you knew it.

(C) Hire a tutor. For yourself.

When it comes to being a parent, there are no perfect answers — just being there is enough. So don’t worry, you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who will love you just the same.

877.457.5430 AdoptKSKids.org Graduating Cal State LA master’s student shares passion for robotics

Guardian Scholar will pursue a Ph.D. at Purdue University in the fall Los Angeles, CA --- Salvador Rojas stands in front of a crowd of Working with his faculty research mentor Professor He Shen, elementary and middle school students gathered inside the Rojas and his team of six undergraduate computer science and University Gymnasium at California State University, Los mechanical and electrical engineering students built Melo over the Angeles and asks them to yell: “Wake up, Melo!” span of about a year and a half.

As if on cue, Melo, a humanoid robot, lifts its upper body, head When starting out, Rojas purchased a used motorized chair with a and neck, looking back and forth at each of its hands and arms as mechanical wheeled platform. The platform would serve as Melo’s if awoken from a slumber. base. The man that sold it to Rojas had refurbished the chair for his elderly father, Carmelo. His father was set to leave the hospital The children watch awestruck as nearby members of Rojas’ but died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest, Rojas says. When it came research team maneuver joysticks programmed to control the time to name his robot, Melo felt like the perfect fit. robot. Melo is made of aluminum, steel, composites and other materials “This always inspires me to keep doing outreach events and and repurposed electronics using 3D-printing and manufacturing. showing students the possibilities—that if you can think it, you An Xbox Kinect acts as the head, allowing a user to connect can create it,” says Rojas, who will graduate cum laude in May remotely with a laptop to see and hear through the robot. with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cal State LA. The ultimate goal for Rojas is to develop a robot that can go where humans do not want to or cannot. Robots can open possibil - The 26-year-old Whittier resident will go on to pursue a Ph.D. in ities in space and oceanic exploration, provide safer options in nat - mechanical engineering at Purdue University in the fall. ural disasters and search and rescue missions, work in hospitals, or go to school or work for us, Rojas says. Rojas fostered his passion for engineering at Cal State LA, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering after He tries to convey the vast possibilities of robotics to audiences, transferring from Cerritos College. like the elementary and middle school students who were intro - duced to Melo on a campus visit. During his time as an undergraduate student, Rojas helped build an open-wheel race car with the Formula Society of Automotive Giving back to his community is important to Rojas, who was for - merly in the foster care system. He recently went to a gathering Engineers team and founded a campus chapter of the American for the university’s Guardian Scholars program and spoke about Society of Mechanical Engineers, which he also led as a graduate his experience and success at Cal State LA. student. Rojas is a member of the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi. In a control systems engineering course during his senior year at He received the Emerging Researchers National Conference stu - Cal State LA, Rojas found his research passion. He was fascinat - dent travel award and was awarded graduate student and faculty ed by how to design, build and control mechanisms—anything mentor recognition during both years of his master’s program. from car engines to machines to robots. Rojas was a student speaker at the College of ECST Honors Rojas was selected for a prestigious California State University – Convocation and received Special Recognition in Graduate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Studies, which is awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.8 Doctorate (LSAMP-BD) fellowship, which supported his pursuit or higher in 80 percent or more of their required program. of a master’s degree at Cal State LA. The fellowship is funded by the National Science Foundation and the CSU Office of the In the fall, Rojas will begin a five-year doctoral program at Purdue Chancellor. University, which has awarded him the George Washington Carver Doctoral Fellowship. Growing up, Rojas always loved art and would draw whatever popped into his imagination—from nature to Spiderman climbing In the future, Rojas sees himself returning to his home of Los and swinging from buildings. His affinity for art helps him now Angeles, perhaps as a professor at Cal State LA. as he translates an image in his mind into reality through engi - neering, something that has come in handy when designing Melo. “I know there’s a lot of people that need help,” Rojas says. “My biggest contribution would be to come back after pursuing my “We’re throwing art and creativity into this design process and doctoral degree and hopefully teach and get a better understanding bringing it to life using engineering software,” Rojas says. of what this community needs.” www.FosterFocusMag.com Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 17 New Player on the Scene in Michigan By Kristyn Peck Foster Focus Contributor West Michigan Partnership for Children ing services that will fortify and support the Human Services. (WMPC) -- a new nonprofit organization in community to prevent other children from Kent County which is the first in Michigan entering foster care in the first place. In Kent County, approximately 30 children to pilot a performance-based case rate and youth are placed in foster care each funding model to improve outcomes for A key component of the model is a strong month--more than 800 children at any children and families -- makes initial continuous quality improvement plan that given time. progress through its Enhanced Foster Care holds WMPC and its subcontracted programming. providers publicly accountable for achiev - Seven years of reflective data collected by ing defined child welfare outcomes for the Public Consulting Group and Lewis The first of April marked six months since children and families. Using cutting-edge and Ellis, commissioned by MDHHS, indi - we began overseeing the placement and technology, WMPC provides dashboards cates that the average length of stay for a care of more than 850 children in foster of its outcomes at monthly meetings with child in foster care in Kent County is 2.4 care in Kent County through a contract its advisory committee to allow for dia - years, or almost 29 months. with the Michigan Department of Health logue and brainstorming around areas of and Human Services (MDHHS). The flexi - success and areas where improvements are This number is more than double the bility of the performance-based funding necessary. WMPC also implemented quar - nationwide median length of stay for chil - model has allowed us to increase availabil - terly review meetings at each of its partner dren in the foster care system of 13.9 ity of trauma-informed, family-like place - agencies to review performance measures months, according to statistics from the ments in our continuum of care, which we and facilitate quality improvement plan - Child Welfare Gateway System. hope will lead us to improved permanency ning. outcomes. . When we examined the reasons behind the WMPC leads and empowers a collabora - length of stay, we identified that there were Under the new funding model, MDHHS tive coalition of five private licensed child a significant number of children placed in pays WMPC a semi-annual case rate allow - placing agencies that provide foster care in residential settings, simply because they ing us to be innovative in creating services Kent County, Michigan: Bethany Christian offered the clinical supports youth need to that meet the needs of children and fami - Services, Catholic Charities West heal from traumatic experiences. Knowing lies. The case rate amount decreases the Michigan, D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns, that it is in the best interest of the child to longer a child remains in care, thus incen - Samaritas, and Wellspring Lutheran be placed in the least-restrictive, most fam - tivizing safety, permanency and placement Services. ily-like setting that meets their needs, and stability. This differs from more traditional that placement in a residential setting can child welfare funding models which pay Valuing reunification and family preserva - prolong a child’s path to permanency, we contracted agencies on a per-diem basis – tion as a priority, WMPC and its partner needed to develop a solution that increased in other words, for how many days the agencies aim to strengthen and empower community-based, trauma-informed place - agency provides services to children and families, increasing reunifications, ment options. families. decreasing the time children are in the child welfare system, and mitigating future re- Recruiting and retaining a healthy pool of This funding model reinforces positive out - entry. foster parents is a challenge nationally, comes including finding children a perma - with the average turnover rate of 30 to 50- nent home more quickly through reunifica - Addressing the Needs within the System percent, according to a study by the Foster tion with their families or adoption if it’s Care Institute. not safe for them to return home, higher After our October 2017 launch, we knew levels of family reunification, better child immediate action was necessary to The study identified the following reasons functioning in all domains, and stronger improve outcomes for children and fami - for the high turnover rate of foster care par - family connections. It also allows us to lies experiencing foster care in Kent ents across the nation: reinvest savings for continued improve - County within the five year scope of the ments in the community. For example, as pilot. ● Lack of support and training from case - more children safely return home from fos - workers and/or agencies, leading them to ter care more quickly, the savings that There are an estimated 13,00 children in feel like inadequate foster parents result from returning/keeping children in foster care in Michigan according to the their homes can be reinvested in develop - Michigan Department of Health and ● Lack of communication from casework - 18 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com ers and/or agencies on the amount of care the community, and deliberately returning team. required to take care of the children being youth from residential care back to the placed in their home community. “Using this program, we have already seen an increase in children transitioning from As we spoke to our five partner foster care Through Enhanced Foster Care, foster par - residential settings to foster and relative agencies, these reasons were reflected in ents and other caregivers are provided the homes that best fit their individual needs. the anecdotes they shared about the chal - right level of training and support by clini - We believe all children deserve safety, lenges to placement of children in foster cal case managers and behavioral special - belonging, and the opportunity for a better homes. ists at the moment it’s needed. This could future, and our Enhanced Foster Care pro - include individualized training for the gramming is helping us achieve this,” said Implementing Programs to Address the caregiver, development and implementa - Caldwell. Needs of Foster Children and Families tion of behavior plans, and regular support from both a clinical case manager and a The expansion of Enhanced Foster Care WMPC knew we needed to increase our behavioral specialist. has the potential to generate significant continuum of care and that increasing sup - savings on two fronts. First, level three port and training to foster parents was key “Our goal with Enhanced Foster Care is to services for children cost far less than the to our efforts. We researched treatment fos - reduce the placement of children in resi - per diem rates for housing a child in a res - ter care models nationwide to identify a dential settings four percent by September idential facility. Second, by providing the solution to implement in Kent County. We of 2019,” said Beth Caldwell, WMPC needed services immediately, we are able hosted listening sessions with our commu - director of care coordination. to achieve faster stability and permanency nity to elicit feedback on the benefits and resulting in greater cost savings by dis - challenges of different models. Our newly There are no specific requirements for fos - charging the child from the system sooner. launched Enhanced Foster Care draws ter families to be able to provide Enhanced These savings can then be reinvested into from best practices from these models Foster Care services. An Individual Service other prevention services to assist families. while tailoring the approach for the needs Agreement, outlining the specific needs of of our community. the child and interventions required by the WMPC has enrolled 34 children in foster parent, is developed between the fos - Enhanced Foster Care since the program We heard from our partners that any model ter care agency and the foster parent that launched in January, served at each of we implement must build the capacity of identifies what the foster parents will do as WMPC’s partner agencies. Of the 34 chil - the current caregiver, if the child is already part of the Enhanced Foster Care treatment dren enrolled, WMPC was able to divert 21 in a placement, to respond to a child’s needs resulting from their trauma. Models that had been implemented in the past allowed certain homes to be designated as treatment homes, therefore contributing to placement instability in situations where a child needed support in their current place - ment that was not a designated treatment home. Furthermore, our partners shared that previous criteria for being designated a treatment home often served as a barrier to recruitment of treatment homes.

Therefore, WMPC designed Enhanced Foster Care to follow the child and grow the capacity of caregivers by increasing their knowledge and skills to effectively nurture a child with trauma-induced behav - ioral and emotional needs. Children in fos - ter care and caregivers receive Enhanced Foster Care services in their current foster care placement. Services are tailored to the child and based on a three-level system. Children with the highest intensity of needs are provided with level three services, while children stepping down from Enhanced Foster Care services are deemed a level one.

The program is designed to provide an intensive community-based approach by stabilizing current youth in foster care, diverting youth from being placed out of www.FosterFocusMag.com Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 19 children from placement breaks in their foster home and discharge six children from residential settings. Many of the children receiving Enhanced Foster Care services have already experienced multiple disruptions in placement since their time in care. Enhanced Foster Care aims to stabilize and equip the current caregivers to prevent this from occurring again.

The creation of WMPC is the result of a long-time public-private partnership between local foster care and other social service agencies, county government, and MDHHS that has been cultivated by the Michigan Child Welfare Partnership Council and the legislature.

These state-wide and community leaders studied child welfare models nationwide to identify program design elements that led to suc - cessful outcomes. The key ingredients they identified were privatized administration of foster care, performance-based contracting, cre - ative and flexible funding that incentivizes permanency, and the use of data to inform continuous quality improvement. These elements were woven into the WMPC program design.

WMPC operates as a consortium, overseeing a continuum of care. This structure coordinates placement and care of children removed from MDHHS, placing youth in the least restrictive setting available that meets their needs, and providing the most appropriate services. The continuum of care is offered by WMPC’s network of private child placement agencies.

Kristyn Peck came to Grand Rapids from Washington, D.C. to help launch WMPC after serving as Associate Director, Children’s Services, for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services. In that capacity, she oversaw family reunification, shelter, and foster care services for unaccompanied children in collaboration with a national network of more than 225 community-based sub-recipient agencies.

Ms. Peck’s expertise in the intersection of child welfare and migration is recognized internationally. She served as the Chair of the Vulnerable Minors Working Group of Refugee Council USA, developed child protection policies for a program that served Burmese refugees in Malaysia, participated in international assessment trips to identify child protection needs in refugee flows and recommend solutions, and made various pre - sentations on best practices for serving refugee and immigrant children at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ annual meetings in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ms. Peck has launched programs, studied processes and proposed improvements, and traveled the world to understand and advocate for best practices for children and families. Last year, she facilitated and led the U.S. Refugee Youth Consultation in Washington, D.C. The year before, she launched a pilot Legal Services and Child Advocacy program that provided legal services to 1,008 unaccompanied children. Ms. Peck earned an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland-Baltimore and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland-College Park. She also com - pleted a course on Refugee and Forced Migration Issues at York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies in Toronto.

wmpc.care

How Homelessness Crisis in Los Angeles Affects Aged-out Foster Youth

By Lauren Lee White Youth Today Foster Focus Contributor LOS ANGELES — Doniesha Thomas is in and children lacked stable housing in 2017, Marissa Espinoza, senior vice president of her bedroom, crouching on the floor and according to the Los Angeles Homeless Covenant House California in Hollywood, peering into a pet carrier that appears Services Authority. which helps homeless people ages 18-24 empty. “He’s in there, all the way back,” find short- and long-term housing, said that she said, reaching in to find the kitten she It’s a crisis so staggering that the subissue consistently 50 percent of the kids who rescued from a nearby vacant lot the day of foster youth aging out of the system come to them report some experience with before, though she says she dislikes cats. without a place to live “has gotten lost in the foster care system on their intake forms. Thomas’ bedroom is in her house. Her the larger conversation around homeless - Though the existence of a foster-care-to- house, rented in her own name. It’s a sin - ness in LA,” said Nisha Kashyap, staff homelessness pipeline in LA is a given in gle-family dwelling in south central LA attorney at the Alliance for Children’s some advocacy circles, exact numbers of that she shares with her fiancé and a room - Rights. “That problem is so dire and so how many youth who age out of county mate. large in scope. But what’s important to care experience homelessness are hard to remember is that youth in foster care have come by. Not long ago, Thomas, 23, was homeless. It a right to placement. We would not accept took her about two years after aging out of it if 10- and 12-year-olds in foster care “It is hard to document exactly how many California’s extended foster care program, were languishing in shelters and sleeping foster youth go on to become homeless which extends certain foster care benefits on friend’s couches, but for our 19-year- because it can be hard to maintain contact through age 21 to young people who had olds it’s OK?” with vulnerable populations over time,” open dependency court cases when they explained Emily Putnam-Hornstein, direc - turned 18, to find stable housing. During THE NUMBERS CHALLENGE tor of the Children’s Data Network. “While that time, she couch surfed at friends’ and administrative records are useful for cap - extended family members’ houses, some - In 2016, the most recent year in which Los turing information on former foster youth times sleeping in friends’ cars. Angeles Homeless Services Authority seeking homeless services, there is current - gathered data about foster care histories ly no statewide source of data — so we She was not alone in her struggle to secure during their annual homeless count, about ‘lose’ youth who move across county housing. The number of people experienc - 36 percent of chronically homeless youth lines.” And not everyone who is homeless ing homelessness in Los Angeles County in LA County said they were involved in seeks out services, Putnam-Hornstein has skyrocketed by 75 percent over the past foster care at some point in their lives, added, so we can’t be sure how many six years. Close to 58,000 men, women, according to data provided by LAHSA. young people are couch surfing or on the streets.

WHY THE PIPELINE EXISTS

Former foster youth — or any youth — who lack a consistent, supportive adult who has their back have their work cut out for them in creating a stable life for them - selves. In Los Angeles, that work is per - haps more exacting than in cities that aren’t in the midst of a housing crisis.

“We are seeing a severe lack of available appropriate places for [youth in extended foster care] here in LA County,” Kashyap said. There are so few other options for Caleigh Wells housing, such as living with a foster family or in designated transitional housing, she said, that there is now “a stark overutiliza - Doniesha Thomas holds the kitten she rescued from the street tion” of a state program called Supported 22 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com Independent Living Placements, or SILPs. Hannah Wing that she learned that as a transition-age Intended to be a transitional step for youth youth formerly in county care she was eli - at the end of their time in extended foster gible for discounted rents in certain hous - care, SILP offers young people who have ing facilities up to the age of 24 (some go demonstrated an ability to live independ - to age 25). She emailed a DCFS employee ently a monthly check (currently $923) whose contact information she found they can use to rent a house or apartment online. They quickly connected her to sev - they find themselves. But because rental eral programs she was eligible for. vacancy rates in LA are hovering at just Within three days, Thomas was off the under 3 percent, and LA is the sixth most street, living in a transitional housing facil - unaffordable rental market in the nation, ity in Echo Park called the Dream Center. options are few and far between. “It was like the greatest thing that had hap - pened to me in forever,” Thomas recalled. “So more and more youth are being forced Doniesha’s experience of aging out with no to take that $923, and try and find a room plans for housing is “unfortunately not or apartment that they can rent on the mar - infrequent at all,” Kashyap said. She ket,” Kashyap said. “Instead of it being an chalked this up to the varied experience option limited for our most independent levels of a young person’s team of social youth, it’s actually about 37 percent in Gina Maida got evicted while on the SILP pro - workers and other providers. “If you have a extended foster care are in SILPs. They’re gram (at 20, she’s still in extended foster care), social worker who is thinking ahead, who forced to compete with the low-income was homeless for several weeks and now lives is very familiar with the process of transi - with her biological father in the tenant world for the limited housing that is Antelope Valley. tion planning, then you’ll see young people available.” She has to commute two hours each way to Los leave with a good transition plan. But a lot Angeles Trade Technical College. Her landlady of people leave without a good plan in A spokesperson for the Department of evicted her for failure to pay rent. Maida says place.” Children and Family Services concurred the landlady is lying and is suing her that the situation in LA creates additional them hand in hand to find permanent hous - DCFS spokesperson Neil Zanville challenges to securing housing for young ing for them,” which can include connect - acknowledged that an exit plan is crucial, people aging out of the system. “The hous - ing to providers contracted with DCFS to and suggested that the variation in quality ing crisis and shortage of foster homes has house transition-age youth. of plans is on the young person, a sentiment had a big impact on us,” the spokesperson echoed by two other DCFS employees. said. “While we provide financial assis - A DCFS spokesperson explained the exit “The [social worker] cannot do these tasks tance and medical benefits for foster par - plan process. “Three months prior to their for the youth,” he said. “The youth must ents caring for children and nonminor 18th and 21st birthday, we conduct a 90- take responsibility to actively participate” dependents, the lack of affordable housing day transition conference before the youth in the extended foster care program, includ - can negatively impact the recruitment of leaves foster care,” the spokesperson said. ing the creation of a plan for transitioning foster, adoptive and kinship families. For “We sit down with the youth and review out of the system. youth, it’s more difficult to find living their educational and employment plans arrangements in a SILP due to the cost of and if they have any support services in WHAT MIGHT WORK housing.” place like counseling. Most importantly, we want to make sure they have a caring How can more former foster youth access The housing crisis puts pressure on all of adult or supports in their lives — whether the kind of transitional housing that DCFS’ housing programs in addition to the family or friend or former caregiver — as Thomas found in a city where any afford - SILP program, the spokesperson added, this is an important indicator that they will able housing is scarce? “and youth who aren’t necessarily SILP- be able to take care of themselves.” ready may be looking for a SILP as their One possibility is that the money raised to only placement option.” Some kids fall through the cracks, though. combat homelessness from Measure H, a Doniesha Thomas said that she turned 21 sales tax hike passed by LA County voters EXIT PLANS with no plan in place, and no discussion of in March 2017, will make a difference, housing, education or employment with her though perhaps not immediately. When foster youth age out of extended care social worker at the time. She didn’t learn at 21, their social worker is required to sub - about the SILP program when she was in “Measure H brought additional revenue,” mit an exit plan, which includes specific extended foster care, she said, but from a Espinoza said. “Now all the providers are plans for housing. Those who had been friend when she was 20, so she was able to trying to figure out how to implement it, so receiving SILP checks no longer receive get the monthly check for only the remain - it’s a great direction we’re going in. But them once they’ve aged out. ing months until her 21st birthday. like anything else it takes time to be able to ramp up services.” “We recognize that it is a housing dilemma Thomas said that it was only when she out there in the big world of Los Angeles spoke to her biological mother, who was On April 16, Mayor Eric Garcetti said in County,” said Michael Scoggins, director also homeless at the time, that she learned his 2018 State of the City speech that of housing for DCFS’ Youth Development the county had resources for shelter she “homelessness isn’t an issue. Services. So a concrete exit plan ensures might be able to access. And it was only Homelessness is the issue.” Garcetti, who that “the social worker is working with when she Googled “transitional housing” has been the subject of criticism for the www.FosterFocusMag.com Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 23 extent to which the crisis has spiraled under his administration, has recently called for more emergency shelters in the city and touted a plan to end homelessness in LA by 2028.

As the Measure H money is implemented and Garcetti strives to fulfill his optimistic vision, there are three things Espinoza said foster youth need in order to avoid homelessness. Housing is just one of them.

The other two, she said, are more mental health services to help them process trauma and “permanent supports” in the form of relation - ships with supportive adults.

“They need to know they matter to someone, that someone is looking out for them,” Espinoza said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that they can live with them, but that someone will help them navigate this real world that can often be so scary.”

YouthToday.org

GAPS Foster Care has an Oral Health Problem

By Brooke Teike Emily Wonnell Rachel Louviere Southern Indiana University Foster Focus Contributors Foster care requires the guardian to focus on a child’s total health, which includes oral health.1 A majority of foster children come from environments affiliated with violence, abuse, neglect, or a combination of those factors. Traumatic dental experiences and poor access to dental care are the main contributors to children having unmet oral needs upon initial entry into the foster system. Research shows that dental neglect and periodontal disease are common disorders found among these children. Almost 40% of foster children display dental disease. Untreated dental diseases can cause long-term and potentially permanent damage to overall health. This validates the importance of oral care for neglected children and the role foster families play in restoring and maintaining the oral health of the children they are caring for. Based upon this background information, this paper will review current literature to determine if the oral health of children improves after entering the foster care system.

Dental decay and poor oral health are public health concerns among children who are neglected and in low-income familial circum - stances. Dental diseases in a foster child are often undiagnosed and untreated until after the child enters the foster care system. Prior to entering the foster care system, the child may have been neglected. Dental neglect is the result of failure of a caregiver to prevent oral disease, failure of a caregiver to become educated on the need for dental care, and failure of the caregiver to schedule and attend preven - tive dental appointments for the child. Poor oral hygiene, bad breath, decay, infections, and gum disease may develop with dental neglect. Access to alcohol, illegal drugs, and unhealthy food options may also lead to poor oral health. It is important to note that dental neglect may also result from financial and transportation barriers. The longer children are in the care of neglecting guardians, oral diseases become more extensive and expensive to restore. After entering the foster care system, neglected children are removed from many of the circumstances that led to dental disease, which may be conducive to improving oral health.

Many barriers prevent foster children from receiving adequate dental care. Health care in the foster system is often crisis oriented, rather than focused on preventative measures, such as routine dental visits. Dental care is not given importance within the foster care system. Oral assessments are not common when a child is admitted into the system in comparison with physical or mental health assessments. A study conducted in 2014 focused on factors associated with dental utilization and expenditures for children within the Washington foster care system. The study concluded that only 43% of children had a dental visit. This is a problem that needs to be addressed within foster care systems and homes. Some foster families lack the finances to pay for dental services, have no means for transportation to dental appointments, and insufficient knowledge of the importance of oral care. Additionally, due to moving in and out of homes within the fos - ter system, the children may not have an established dental provider. The dental records of these children may be incomplete or entirely unavailable. Without dental records, it may be hard to know when the last dental visit was or what problems were present in the mouth in order to follow up with dental care as a child is placed into a home. Foster children may exhibit fear of pain and authority, thus leading them to respond negatively to dental treatments and other attempted restorative work.

Dental providers may have concerns about treating children who are in the foster system. They may speculate how they will be compen - sated for the work provided and not know who is legally able to sign consent for treating the child. Dental providers may decline treating a child if legal consent for treatment cannot be obtained. Foster children may exhibit fear of pain and authority, thus leading them to respond negatively to dental treatments and other attempted restorative work. These barriers could allow dental diseases to progress.

Research supports that foster parents possess the capability to help shape the oral health of the children that they are caring for. A quali - tative study explored the impact that foster families had on the oral health of children who had just been placed into their home. The study 26 Foster Focus Volume 7 Issue 12 www.FosterFocusMag.com focused on the foster parents’ knowledge of oral health and attitudes towards dental care. The 12 foster parents in the study saw oral health as a crucial aspect of their foster child’s total wellbeing. The study concluded that foster parents are integral in the restoration and maintenance of the oral health and the total wellbeing of neglected children.

While this study found positive improvements in oral health when the child entered the foster system, these results do not appear to be universal. While it is true that neglected children are removed from the factors that initially contributed to dental disease, the significance and seriousness of dental care is often pushed aside within the foster system. Therefore, the improved oral health of children after entering the foster care system is essentially circumstantially based. Foster parents have the ability to influence children’s oral health and total wellbeing in a constructive and positive way, however there are factors on both ends that could limit the improvement of oral health.

There are ways to improve the odds of attaining improved oral health for foster children. Collaboration between dental professionals and the foster care community is vital in providing appropriate care for the children within the foster care system. Prevention of dental dis - eases is one key component. Education and daily oral care are inexpensive and effective methods to reduce dental disease prevalence. Dental professionals could serve as educators to foster families’ community and social workers by holding informative meetings and pro - grams regarding dental visits and oral care. By improving access to oral hygiene products and informative dental programs, disease man - agement and elimination is achievable. Studies have shown that early access to preventive dental services can prevent costly future dental conditions.10 Access to appropriate dental care can improve if dentists offer subsidized dental care. This has the potential to make dental care affordable to the foster community and prioritize oral health for children who are in need of dental care.

Acknowledgements This research was supported by Emily R. Holt, RDH, MHA, CDA. The authors are immensely grateful for her advice and encouragement throughout the publication process.

Brooke Teike is a 2018 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene with Magna Cum Laude Honors. She has always had a passion for being a positive impact on the lives of others. She is a dental hygienist in her hometown of Greenwood, Indiana.

Emily Wonnell is a 2018 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. She is from southern Indiana and plans to continue her dental hygiene career in the area of Evansville, Indiana. Her passion for dentistry and improving the oral health of others began in her teen years as a dental assistant and is continuing as she grows as a dental hygienist.

Rachel Louviere is a 2018 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene with Cum Laude Honors. She has a passion for children and is actively involved with the youth in her community.

Her goal is to bring her skills and passions into a dental practice in the Indianapolis, Indiana area.

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DR. JOHN DEGARMO Mario McLean Dr. John DeGarmo has been a Mario McLean, 24, native of foster parent for 10 years, now, Detroit, MI, survived the foster and he and his wife have had care system and is a product of over 40 children come through Cass Technical High School & their home. Michigan State University. His success both in and out of the Dr. DeGarmo wrote his classroom at MSU allowed him dissertation on fostering, to be selected to be the Student entitled Responding to the Commencement Speaker at his Needs of Foster Children in graduation in 2015! Throughout Rural Schools . his time at MSU, Mario also had the opportunity to Study Abroad to Puebla, Mexico, where he provided social support to children (ages newborn -12 years old) who came from a neglected family background history, much like him. In Every Day is an Interview , I invite the reader into my life, describing some of my most daunting experiences and how I was able Children suffering from abuse. Neglect. Malnutrition. Even drug-related to recover from them. problems passed on from a mother’s addiction. Children rejected by those who were to love them most, their parents. When placed into a foster home, many My main motive in writing this book is to share with others my trials and tribu - of these children carry with them the physical and emotional scars that prevent lations – securing them that despite barriers and obstacles, you can still manage them from accepting the love of another. This journey as a foster parent is the to be successful. I’ve lived and breathed it! I’m a living testimony! I believe most difficult thing John DeGarmo has done. God has placed me on this earth to share my story, so it is with great pleasure that I do just that. Through the sleepless nights with drug-addicted babies, the battles with angry teens, and the tears from such tremendous sadness, John DeGarmo learns that I anticipate this book helping others to reach their highest potential through the to follow God’s call in his life means to take up His cross in his own home. learning of my personal background and upbringing. My guess is that there’s somebody out there who went through or is still going through some of the Fostering Love: One Foster Parent’s Journey is the true-life account of his same things that I’ve been through. There’s somebody out there who is holding experience as a foster parent, along with his wife and their own three children, onto a lot of pain, agony and hurt and just need to release all of their bottled up as he followed God’s call to take foster children into his home. This is a story emotions. I ask that this book will do just that. of heartbreak, sadness, and ultimately love as he came to find God in the tears and smiles of many foster children.

drjohndegarmo.com mariomclean.com

garbagebagsuitcase.com catmarshall.net SHENENDOAH CHEFALO CATHERINE MARSHALL Shenandoah Chefalo is a graduate of Catherine Marshall's stories about Michigan State University, holding a parenting and other real life adven - Bachelor of Arts with a Major in tures have been featured in several Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, a anthologies and magazines includ - Core Essentials Graduate from Coach U, and ing the Noyo River Review, Foster a member of the Foster Leaders Movement. Families Today, and Tales of Our She is a sought after speaker on topics sur - Lives . rounding youth in foster care, and has been featured as a guest locally, nationally and internationally. She resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and Mendocino, where She is also a survivor and alumni of the foster care system. she has a consulting practice spe - Shenandoah Chefalo is also the author of Garbage Bag Suitcase cializing in helping nonprofits and about her time before, during and after foster care as well as her community groups effect social current advocacy work. She also wrote an e-book entitled change. She is the author of Field Building: Your Blueprint for Setting Your Vision and Defining Your Goals, and is also work - Creating an Effective and Powerful Social Movement . ing on her next manuscript, Hiking for Stillness .

Catherine Marshall's story reveals the heartbreak and hope of foster parenting. Thirty-eight and newly married, Catherine yearned to be a mother and adoption Garbage Bag Suitcase is the true story of Shenandoah Chefalo’s wholly dys - seemed a viable option. The county's Foster-Adopt Program was affordable, so functional journey through a childhood with neglectful, drug-and alcohol she and her new husband were confident they could adopt and parent two sib - addicted parents. She endured numerous moves in the middle of the night with lings. But nothing was as it seemed. The birth parents used intimidation and just minutes to pack, multiple changes in schools, hunger, cruelty, and loneli - the court system to sabotage the adoption. The social services agency wavered ness. Finally at the age of 13, Shen had had enough. After being abandoned by in its support. Even the children, three-year old Jenny and six-year old Robert, her mother, she asked to be put into foster care. Surely she would fare better at were unaware of the ticking time bomb of genetics and early neglect that a stable home than living with her mother? It turns out that this was not the sto - would detonate in their teens. rybook ending she had hoped for. With foster parents more interested in the income received by housing a foster child, Shen was once again neglected Would the family survive intact? Would the marriage withstand the stress? emotionally. The money she earned working at the local grocery store was Would the children overcome the same afflictions and addictions that had taken by her foster parents to “cover her expenses.” When a car accident lands plagued their birth parents? The Easter Moose: One Family's Journey Adopting her in the hospital with grave injuries and no one comes to visit her during her through Foster Care provides all parents, but particularly those adopting, fos - three week stay, she realizes she is truly all alone in the world. tering, or caring for children with challenges, the assurance they are not alone. Social workers, teachers, people who work in the family court system, and anyone who believes in nurture over nature will get a reality check.

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RHONDA SCIORTINO RHONDA SCIORTINO At age 15 Rhonda decided Acts of Kindness, small or large, to seek emancipation. One help everyone make their world a of the prerequisites was that kinder place. Through the simplest Rhonda have a job, so she act of kindness, all of our lives are went to work for the first improved. Genuine caring is best person who would hire her– expressed through encouraging an insurance agent. and helping others. Kindness fills the emotional "fuel tank" of others When her employer as well as ourselves. This book explained the concept of gives simple suggestions for con - insurance, Rhonda learned necting with others, which is the everything she could about insurance. Despite being powerful undercurrent of kindness. denied again and again, Rhonda repeatedly petitioned the Insurance Commissioner to allow her to sit for the insur - ance agent exam even though she wasn’t yet 18. An Good foster care is a profound act of Kindness that can literally change the exception was finally granted, and Rhonda became trajectory of a child's life. Everyone isn't equipped to be a foster patent, but California’s youngest licensed insurance agent at 17. everyone can be kind. Survivors of childhood abuse are some of the strongest, most talent, most Kindness isn't complicated or costly, but it can have meaningful, measurable resourceful people you'll ever meet. In fact, the more painful the mistreatment effects in the lives of both the giver and the recipient. Imagine the exponential they've survived, the more significant the character traits and learned abilities impact of Kindness in the lives of everyone you know. Kindness can make they've developed! Grouchy people friendlier, withdrawn people open up, and lead depressed people to begin to believe that happiness is possible. Successful Survivors -- The 8 character Traits and How You Can Develop Them includes story after story of people who exemplify the character traits that are Let's spark positive change in our families, workplace, and communities. The exactly what survivors of trauma need to create successful lives. The great news easiest place to start is by giving away copies of Acts of Kindness, 101 Ways is that these character traits and abilities can be developed in all of us and can be To Make The World A Better Place. If you’re interested in a purchase of five used to create personal and professional success. or more copies, email [email protected]. I’ve negotiated a deal to provide them at about half the price listed on Amazon, and all the proceeds will go to The challenge is that survivors of trauma often don't know about those assets the Successful Survivors Foundation to provide the program to TAY and until someone recognizes and celebrates them. If you know someone who hasn't rescued trafficking victims. yet discovered and unleashed their powerful character traits, give them SUCCESSFUL SURVIVORS . The next book, KINDNESS QUOTIENT , will help us show Kindness to peo - ple who cannot or will not reciprocate. rhonda.org rhonda.org

kerivellis.com Keri Vellis Eileen Williams Eileen Williams worked Keri Vellis and her husband are as a full time Support passionate and involved parents of Worker at a homeless six children: three biological and project for young people three adopted through the foster and also part time with care system. Keri always enjoyed ex-offenders living with - reading with her children but was in a probation hostel. surprised to find that the local Eileen began to feel she bookstores and libraries did not could be more help to offer age appropriate, yet engaging individuals by providing books relating to foster care and the full time support within a experiences that those children home environment, she consequently gave up her jobs encounter. She wanted the kids she and became a full time foster carer.encouraged to fostered over the years to feel comfortable with new fam - focus on just one young person who had many com - ilies and pets, schools and activities. It occurred to her that plex issues in his life to deal with. there was a void for all of the children who moved through the system, not just hers. Eileen lives happily with her husband in the Suffolk Through a swift series of coincidences, Keri was connected with illustrator Jin countryside in the United Kingdom. She treasures pre - Lehr, a foster child herself! Having aged out of the system, Jin could actually cious time spent with her children and grandchildren. feel the emotions of what Keri had written because she had gone through it as a Moving To Independence is an educational and insightful book, written from child. the heart around three Core Concepts developed by the author. The easy to follow narrative will clearly speak to you if you are involved in any way in Keri's goal is for this book to help children transitioning to another home feel supporting a young person on their way to independence. It can be dipped in good about themselves and understand that there can be loving people around and out of whenever opportunities arise. The book shares ideas and practical them and happiness in their lives. Keri and her thriving, busy family live in methods which help individuals to develop self-knowledge and self-respect, Sonoma County in Northern California. these then become the foundations on which they can build themselves a truly unique and stable home. Individuals are taken on a journey of self-discovery Jin Lehr was born in Nebraska but quickly trekked all over the country, attend - and support workers are able to fully engage with this. ing eleven different schools in just over 10 years. In a life of instability, the only control and constant was her art. Jin was placed in foster care after mov - After being guided through the book, young people will learn that they can be ing to Sonoma County, CA at age 13. The process of being a "foster kid" proud to own their own histories. They are encouraged to trust their own peeled away years of abuse and neglect. She found peace and positivity in memories and feelings and have greater awareness of the validity of these. drawing in sketchbooks, in her world of darkness and sadness. Her ultimate They are then able to build a future with confidence, optimism and a sense of goal is to write and illustrate her own children's book one day. Jin, her hus - belonging that will support them in their move on to the future. band, and their growing family call Sonoma County home.

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Rosemary Zibart Susan Traugh Rosemary Zibart is an award- Award-winning author Susan winning author of books for Traugh is a former teacher young people, adoptive mom and holds a Masters in and former foster parent who Education with an emphasis earned an Angel in Adoption on curricula. Her Transition citation from the Congressional 2 Life and Daily Living Coalition on Adoption Institute Skills series have received for her journalism on behalf of acclaim from educators at-risk and vulnerable children around the world. Susan is in feature articles for PARADE, the mother of three incredi - Time Magazine and other ble children, all with special national publications. needs. Working with both public and private schools to secure the best education for her kids, Susan realized the need for a comprehensive, age-appropriate transition program for at-risk and mild-to-moderately affected special needs teens. The resulting program has received acclaim worldwide

What does it feel like to enter foster care? Told from a child’s point of view, Kit Aging out of foster care can be a terrifying experience for teens—especially if Coyote: A Brave Pup answers many difficult questions: Where are my parents? they don’t have the skills necessary to tackle adult living. Transition 2 Life and Do they love me? Why can’t I live with them? What’s going to happen to me? Daily Living Skills meet federal mandates for transition education and provide This bright, appealing story encourages children to adjust to new situations and the foundation teens need to address a wide variety of “real life” skills. Subject people, speak to trusted adults, express their feelings in creative ways and areas include Adult Living, Cooking, Social Skills, Job Skills and Character believe in their own capacity to survive and even thrive in a challenging situa - Building. Individual workbooks range from Cleaning House, Paying Bills and tion. Grocery Shopping to Everyday Manners, Safe Dating and Making Conversation. Other titles include Interviewing Skills, Getting a Paycheck, and Time “Kit Coyote: A Brave Pup” is a beautifully illustrated story that will be treas - Management, to Building Character, Decision Making and Overcoming Failure. ured by child therapists, social workers, foster parents, recovering parents and All books are written on a 3rd/4th grade reading level for easy independent use others who help children heal and grow from family disruptions.” while honoring a young adult’s humor and sensibilities. All pages are liberally sprinkled with age-appropriate cartoons and illustrations and bullet-point infor - ~ J. Tharinger, PhD, Founding Member, Therapeutic Assessment Institute and mation is used whenever possible. This highly affordable series includes assess - Author, “Therapeutic Stories for Children Generated from Psychological ments, grading sheets, answer keys, ITP Goals, and mandated Parent/Guardian Assessments” information sheets designed to meet national standards.

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Foster Focus has decided to take on the task of helping the nation’s aging Foster Care population find homes. Anonymous Faces will feature select Foster Children each month, who have been in Care for extended periods of time. These children are available for expedited adoption. It is the hope of Foster Focus that these very special children find proper homes to finish Care, and guidance as they make their own way through the world. Please take a few moments and get to know these children and if you feel you can help simply contact the representative from www.afamilyforeverychild.com

California Child Lisa and Latrina are lovely siblings who desire the security and stability of an adoptive family.

Lisa is a personable and sweet girl who gets along with everyone. She is quiet and polite and appears older due to her vocabulary and understanding of adult matters. She is able to say what she likes and doesn’t like and has positive relationships with adults and she relates well to her peers. She enjoys listening to music, writing and reading most.

Younger sister Latrina enjoys being outdoors and especially loves a trip to the mountains. She also likes arts and crafts and video games. She will be assessed through the school system to see if she can benefit from special services but always works hard at school. Latrina has some behavioral challenges that she is working on and she truly wants to belong to a family. She is learning appropriate coping skills and is making good progress. There are other siblings including three brothers that the girls would love to maintain their connections to for the rest of their lives and they would like a family that can support these important relationships.

California Child Lizzie is smart, creative and a huge lover of all animals, She is a rare gem that shines brighter with love and attention. Lizzie is an excellent student, achieving straight A’s on her report card. Lizzie enjoys school and has begun to really excel in this area. Lizzie sees school as a means to get into college and has decided that her future will involve what she loves the most, animals. Her dream is to become a zoo keeper, helping exotic and endangered animals live healthy and safe lives. Lizzie hopes to find a family that will nurture her dreams, support who she is as a person and allow her room to stretch and grow into the amazing young woman she is destined to become.

California Child Anthony is thoughtful and very bright. It is obvious how focused he is when he speaks with you and looks you directly in the eye. He also enjoys lots of different sports like soccer and basketball. He is agile and full of fun and he throws himself into the games! Anthony loves sports such as soccer, swimming, baseball and basketball. He enjoys camping, being outdoors, playing at the park and even enjoys school. He also loves music and would love to learn how to play a musical instrument. Anthony is well liked and social. He states his ideal family would be a mom and a dad. He wouldn't mind sharing the love with a sibling or two.

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Texas Child Julie is usually a shy child, but it doesn't take long for her to warm up to you. Though she requires assistance in school as well as her daily living skills, she is able to help with daily chores when given simplified instructions. She is definitely a people pleaser and is always smiling. Julie likes to swim, listen to music, paint, and color. Julie loves dancing whenever she hears any type of music. Learning new things and being independent are important to Julie and she continues to strive to conquer new challenges. Julie likes being around people and gets along well with her peers and adults

Julie is best matched with a family who is able to understand her unique abilities and limitations in the ability to function in areas of daily life, such as communication, self-care, and getting along in social situations and school activities. Julie's adoptive family will understand the need for simplified instructions and be able to repeat proper behavioral experiences until it is learned.

Child is under Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Texas Child "I'm thinking about learning to be a mechanic or maybe going into the military."

Jared is a happy-go-lucky youth who describes himself as "calm and easy going;" a guy who doesn't get upset about much. He can be quiet and shy at first, but he's just taking it all in before he decides to warm up to you. Jared is easy to get along with and enjoys meaningful conversations on a variety of topics. He is thinking about joining the military in the future or perhaps attending college; maybe both. Jared is very talented and mechanically minded. He is gifted in figuring out how things work and fit together, and enjoys working with his hands. Like many teens, Jared enjoys spending time with his friends and listening to music. He is well aware of how his friends are either a positive or negative influence; he tries to lean toward the positive side. Jared likes cars and sports, and has a heart filled with hopes and dreams of becoming a man who will make a difference in this world.

Jared's forever family will have realistic expectations of a teenage boy growing up in today's world. He will need a very understanding and patient family who will help and encourage him to set goals and reach them with persistence and focus. Jared is looking for a family who will be committed to him and cheer him on as he pursues his hopes and dreams. Jared wants a family who wants him, who will be there for him, and who will help "point the way."

Child is under Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Ohio Child Brittni is a pre-teen with a ton of spunk and personality! She is very outgoing and talkative. She loves to laugh and be silly. She cares about other people and wants to help when she can. She enjoys dressing up and doing crafts. Brittni has an adventuous spirit and isn't afraid to try new things.

Brittni at times can struggle with boundaries and being bossy. She is working on these issues in therapy. She is currently in a foster home where she is doing very well. The right family for Brittni , should be firm and consistant with her. She would do well in a single parent or two parent home. Brittni would do well having older siblings who could be role models for her. It would benefit Brittni to have a permanent family who is comfortable with her having contact with her birth family. She is very bonded with her grandmother.

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Improving Lives.

Cenpatico’s Foster Care Program works collaboratively with the child welfare system and various stakeholders to help improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children by serving as a behavioral health partner, improving quality and continuity of care.

Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC, is a part of the Centene family of companies. Visit us at www.cenpatico.com