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News

26-May-05 | 2004 Recap
Celeste writes:	NFYAC provided leadership to the field in the area of youth engagement. Cultivating relationships is crucial for the cultivation of leadership influence in the field. Council members and staff have been involved with a number of traditional partners to highlight the issue of foster care as well as the work of the Council. Partners include: > Youth Law Center to support their Virginia Foster Youth Education Reform initiative, > Lumina Foundation for Education in Indianapolis, Indiana for a convening of child welfare and education organizations, > Annie E. Casey Foundation (Meeting with Dana Shelly) to support the preparation for the Kids Count Data Book release in Washington, DC, > Kids Count Press Event in Washington, DC, > Jim Casey Grantees Convening in Atlanta, Georgia, > Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network Teen Report Card in Washington, DC (participation in press event) Additionally, NFYAC members conducted outreach and education to non-traditional partners in an effort to highlight the challenges encountered by young people in foster care for the general public. During 2004, NFYAC members and staff conducted presentations for the following non-child welfare organizations: > Everett Public Service Internship Program in July 2004 > Mind on the Media Turn Beauty Inside Out (conference for girls) in May 2004 > Interns in Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s office in April 2004 > Office of Senator James Inhofe in Oklahoma; > Capital One, Holiday on Ice Event. > Capitol One and The National Foster Care Fund Fostering the Future Scholarship Launch Event Project staff were excited about the invitation from Capital One to join them for the taping of the Holiday on Ice event which featured a special promotion about foster care. Because minimal funds were available for travel, Shantel Potter, NFYAC member from Baltimore, Maryland and Terry Harrak attended to represent the Council. The event was televised December 25, 2004; Terry and Shantel were featured briefly during the foster care segment. It was a great opportunity to share some information about the work of NFYAC. During their trip to Norfolk, Virginia, Shantel and Terry interacted with professional skaters such as Gold Medal winner Kristi Yamaguchi, Michael Weiss, Alexei Yagudin, and John Zimmerman. (See Appendix ___ for photos from the event.) Several NFYAC members have also been featured in local and national news for their leadership and advocacy efforts around foster care. Madeline Burgess, member from Rhode Island, was selected as one of Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Women. (Please see Appendix ___ for the full text of the article.) Mary Lee, member from Tennessee (representing both NFYAC and the JCYOI Tennessee Board) has been featured in local newspapers for her work. Project staff and NFYAC members have provided and participated in a number of training opportunities throughout the year. The training events are as follows: > CWLA’s National Conference in February of 2004 in Washington, DC; > National Resource Center for Youth Services, Pathways to Adulthood National Independent Living and Transitional Living Conference in April of 2004 in Washington, DC; > Mind on the Media’s Turn Beauty Inside Out Conference for Young Women in Washington, DC in May of 2004; > Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Board’s Youth Summit in Atlanta, Georgia in June of 2004; > Indiana Statewide Independent Living Youth Conference in Bloomington, Indiana in June of 2004; > JCYOI Media Training in Washington, DC in June of 2004; > Bloomington Listening Forum on LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care, Bloomington, Indiana in July of 2004. > Partnership for Youth Transition, Sponsored by University of South Florida and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC in August of 2004; > Texas Alumni Advocacy Training, Austin, Texas in August of 2004; > It’s My Life Conference in Sacramento, California in October of 2004; > Casey Family Programs Better Together, Seattle, Washington in October of 2004; and > Kansas City Youth Board, Strategic Sharing, Kansas City, Kansas in November 2004. Project staff have continued to build relationships with key national organizations. In October of 2004, project staff participated in the Better Together training sponsored by Casey Family Programs. Project staff and several NFYAC members were also invited to attend the initial meeting for the transition of the National Alumni Network in January of 2004 (currently Foster Care Alumni of America). April Curtis, NFYAC member from Illinois, was selected as a member of their steering committee for transition planning. During 2005, NFYAC will reach out to the leadership of Foster Care Alumni of America to develop a strong and collaborative working relationship. NFYAC continues to have a working relationship with the California Youth Connection (CYC). Herbie Vanderhorst serves as the liaison between NFYAC and CYC. During the last year, NFYAC’s involvement with other divisions at CWLA has expanded. One of NFYAC’s members continues to serve on CWLA’s Board of Directors. CWLA has also engaged members of NFYAC in the work of its National Advisory Committees. Chris Brooks, NFYAC member from Nevada, was selected to serve on the CWLA’s National Advisory Committee on Public Policy. David Ambroz, NFYAC member from California, was selected for membership with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ) National Advisory Network. Council members have also worked with CWLA’s Government Affairs division to participate in conference calls and provide feedback about key legislative issues, including Education and Training Vouchers program and child welfare financing. Support the expansion and growth of NFYAC Growth and sustainability of the council are an ongoing area of focus. A critical key to the successful expansion of the Council has included the development of sound infrastructure. During 2004, the Executive Committee of NFYAC, with support from project staff, planned and facilitated a series of executive committee conference calls. The calls were implemented to engage more extensive input from NFYAC members for the planning of each official meeting and other NFYAC business. Conference calls were planned monthly during 2004. However, the group did encounter challenges with finding meeting times that accommodated different schedules, life priorities, and time zones. Council members convened their first meeting of the year during the first week of May 2004, in celebration of National Foster Care Month. During the first day of the meeting, members were joined by Tim Briceland Betts, Policy Analyst with CWLA’s Government Affairs Division, who provided information about key pieces of legislation impacting youth in foster care. Council members also had an opportunity to develop "talking points" specific to the Education and Training Vouchers Program. In partnership with the National Foster Care Coalition, NFYAC hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill to officially release their position statement on education and the Get Educated! poster. During the event, the Council officially recognized the contributions of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton by presenting her with the first-ever Inspiration Award. While Senator Clinton was unable to attend, Catherine Brown, Senior Legislative Advisor, Office of Senator Hillary Clinton accepted the award on her behalf and reaffirmed the Senator’s commitment to issues impacting young people in foster care. While on the Hill, Council members visited thirty-three congressional offices and disseminated information resources, including copies of the poster and position statement. The second NFYAC meeting was convened in October of 2004 in conjunction with CWLA’s Biennial Leadership Summit. The inclusion of NFYAC members in this event represents the first time in the history of this convening that young people, both currently as well as formerly involved with the system, were invited to participate as equal partners. Building on the conversations that took place between CWLA Member Services staff and NFYAC, Council members joined CEO’s and administrators from across the country for several days of listening, conversing and strategizing about how to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families served by the child welfare system. The participation of Council members in the Biennial was widely regarded as a success; many Biennial attendees expressed their appreciation to project staff as well as NFYAC members. Following the conclusion of the Biennial, NFYAC members spent a day and a half conducting Council business. During this time, Council members worked on debriefing the Biennial, developing goals for 2005, completing final edits and additions to educational materials, revising their Operating Agreement (by-laws), and electing new officers. Conduct education around issues impacting youth in foster care and disseminate this information to the field. Given the overwhelming interest and support from the field, Council members decided to maintain education as a focus issue for 2004. During the previous project year, Council members developed several resources around the issue of education. Project staff and council members received an overwhelming response and demand from the field for these resources. During 2004, members and staff distributed several thousand copies of the Get Educated poster. Request for posters include: > Pathways to Adulthood Conference April of 2004 > Hill Briefing on Educational Opportunities for Foster Youth in May of 2004 > Indiana State Wide Independent Living Youth Conference in June of 2004 > Youth Law Center in October of 2004 > It’s My Life Conference in October of 2004 > Montana Independent Living Conference in November of 2004 > Hill Briefing on Educational Opportunities for Foster Youth in May of > Virginia State Youth Board in December of 2004 During 2004, forty-seven complete applications for membership with NFYAC were received. NFYAC’s executive council and membership committee along with project staff will be reviewing and selecting new members in early 2005.br> Planned Activities for 2005. The following section provides highlights of the work for 2005. Activities will fall within four major categories: > The provision of leadership to the field; > Strategic growth for the National Foster Youth Advisory Council; > Education around key issues impacting youth in foster care including promoting educational success, permanency for all children and youth in care, and ensuring positive housing outcomes; and > Diversification of support for the work of the Council. The provision of leadership to the field. Council members will work closely with CWLA and JCYOI to provide advice and feedback regarding specific initiatives as well as broader issues impacting young people in foster care. As resources permit, project staff and NFYAC members will conduct training and workshops at major conferences and events. Strategic growth for the National Foster Youth Advisory Council. The Council will convene two meetings of NFYAC during 2005 and will also conduct sessions designed to support the professional and personal development of members (as resources permit). To support the integration of new members, the NFYAC Executive Committee will provide comprehensive orientation to new members of NFYAC and opportunities for team building and relationship development among members. Finally, recruitment efforts will continue with special emphasis on younger members, states/regions not currently represented and young people from JCYOI Youth Leadership Boards. Education around key issues impacting youth in foster care including promoting educational success, permanency for all children and youth in care, and ensuring positive housing outcomes. Council members will continue to highlight educational success, permanency for all children and youth in care, and ensuring positive housing outcomes the as major issues impacting youth in foster care. As resources permit, NFYAC will disseminate existing NFYAC publications to the field and will develop a position statement on permanency for the upcoming year. Additionally, project staff will work with members to actively engage young people outside NFYAC’s membership by working with Foster Club and JCYOI peer learning to disseminate NFYAC’s publication and resources. NFYAC members will also work in partnership with the partnership from Casey Family Programs in the planning of National Foster Care Month, 2005. Diversification of support for the work of the Council. This particular task has proven to be challenging in recent years. While project staff have worked to explore additional sources of funding for the work of NFYAC, efforts have not been successful to date. At the close of the fall meeting in 2004, Council members formed an ad hoc group focused on resource development for the Council. This committee will meet in 2005 and generate strategies for raising additional revenue to support the work of as well as special projects for the Council.
04-Mar-03 | Recap of November 2003 Meeting
NFYAC writes:	National Foster Youth Advisory Council Meeting November 7-9, 2003 Washington, DC >> Pamela Johnson, Federal Program Officer, Children's Bureau and Robin Nixon, Director, National Foster Care Coalition met with the NFYAC to review legislation affecting young people in care, with a specific emphasis on promoting positive educational outcomes. >> NFYAC introduced the the Foster Youth Involvement Toolkit. The Toolkit will be used to provide training and technical assistance in the areas of youth engagement and youth and adult partnerships. >> The National Foster Youth Advisory Councils priority issue for 2004, is promoting educational success for young people in foster care. Council members will work in subcommittees to develop a range of deliverables highlighting the issue of education: (1) creating a poster to promote the Education and Training Vouchers Program (ETV), (2) developing an education "tip sheet" to provide information about educational opportunities to young people and adults. >> NFYAC's agenda around the issue of education for 2004 includes: supporting advocacy efforts across the country, developingresources targeted toward young people, and disseminating information about the Education and Training Vouchers Program (ETV).