FAAZWebII | Fostering Advocates Arizona

Aging Out of Care: The Challenges

May 14, 2019 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

As most youth approach their 18th birthday, they are excited about new independence. As an “adult”, they may feel ready to make their own decisions, but they also know they can still rely on their family for their support. For youth in foster care, turning 18 is most often overwhelming. The services and guidance they have relied on, can easily come to an end. Without legal permanency, these young adults find themselves faced with the possibility of not having the people or supports that can help guide them as they transition to becoming an adult in this complicated world. Having someone to provide guidance, support, and practice with decision making can certainly help make this transition easier.

For me, I was in and out of foster care my entire life. I experienced every placement type imaginable, but I never found a family or place to call home. Instead, I became one of the 900 or so young adults in Arizona who age out of foster care every year. At age 18, I was suddenly responsible for myself with no one else really accountable to ME to help me safely find my way. I had to learn how to handle things the right way on my own.

DCS had “prepared” me for this transition in only a few days leading up to my birthday. Everything was a blur as I struggled to learn and obtain the needed knowledge and skills that were suddenly my responsibility. I wanted to slow things down, but we had to stick to the schedule based on a judge’s ruling, not on my needs. On paper, I had multiple people whose job it was to support me, but at the end of the day, I had no one that I had a real personal connection with. Suddenly I was 18 and on my own.

Without someone to guide me through life, I struggled to obtain my legal documents, navigate new insurance coverage, and enroll in supportive programs. I eventually found work, but without interview practice or guidance on my resume, it was far from easy. These were just some of the skills I had been expected to learn in just a few days. I was doing my best to survive, but I was also still a teenager and still learning, making mistakes, and taking risks, but I had to guide myself through these life decisions, and unfortunately, this didn’t always work out for me.

While this transition comes with challenges for everyone, having someone there to support and guide me could have made a big difference. At age 18, I was focused on being independent and having enough money to support myself, so I worked two jobs while going to school. I wish someone had worked with me on my plans for the future. They could have taught me the importance of an education and told me to prioritize school while I still received some assistance through various programs. For me, the hardest part of transitioning out of care is changing your mindset to be an adult and learning to be your own support system and your own motivation. Someone could have impacted my life by continuing to be my support system, motivating and encouraging me, during this time.

If you’re looking for someone to provide support in your life, check out our page on how to find a mentor.

—FAAZ Board Member: Rayanna

Youth Engagement Conference

June 15, 2018 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

Last month, three FAAZ Young Adult Board Members traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Youth Engagement Conference. This two-day long event focused on youth voice as the driver behind race, ethnicity, equity and inclusion conversations. FAAZ Board Member, Ashley Pacheco, spoke at the conference and shared her experience.

Ashley believes that engaging young people in these conversations is extremely important. In her opinion, we all come from different backgrounds and while many adults can deliver a moving speech, when it comes from another young person it can help youth feel more connected. In her own words, “authentically engaging youth is really important because it is the foundation on how to talk to youth and how to connect to youth.” Ashley feels that when organizations engage youth directly it demonstrates that they are “not talking for you, but with you.”

Ashley enjoyed several of the guest speakers at the conference. One speaker in particular, Jerry Tello of National Compadres Network, brought Ashley comfort when she found out they were from the same hometown. Even though Jerry didn’t experience foster care, he understood and shared similar experiences growing up a young person of color. In this way, it validated her own personal experiences.

The trip also served as an opportunity for Ashley to connect with her fellow Board Members. They shared their stories and reflected on the commonalities and differences between them. Ashley brings home a greater sense of connection as well as the tools to engage in potentially uncomfortable conversations regarding race equity.

2018 Policy Recommendations Announcement

March 18, 2018 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

As young people who have experienced foster care, our challenges, strengths and life experiences are the driving force behind our advocacy efforts. Having lived through the obstacles that brought us into care, managing life while in care, and surviving life after care, we understand the hurdles and struggles current and former foster youth face each day.

Over the last several months, we have worked diligently to identify four key priority areas along with recommendations to improve foster care in Arizona. We are excited to announce the publication of our 2018 Policy Recommendations. We urge you to read our personal testimonies on how these priority areas have challenged and affected our lives and join us in taking action to make these changes. We are asking for a seat at the leadership table, and so should you! As experts on foster care, in the coming weeks, months and years ahead we need to provide meaningful ideas and solutions for ALL youth to truly thrive in Arizona.

Breanna Carpenter
Fostering Advocates Arizona
Young Adult Leadership Board Member

Frank Smith is going to the UK!

December 6, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

We are so pleased to share that Frank Smith, a member of the Fostering Advocates Arizona (FAAZ) Young Adult Leadership Board, has just been awarded the extremely prestigious Marshall Scholarship, a postgraduate scholarship for distinguished young Americans, focused on future leaders and with the goal to strengthen the special relationship between the United Kingdom and United State for “the good of mankind in this turbulent world.” It is one of the most difficult scholarships to win requiring university endorsement and competition against approximately 1000 applicants nationwide. Each year, 40 Americans are awarded the scholarship. Frank heads to the United Kingdom in August of 2018.

I thought I bombed it (the interview). I had got into Los Angeles at 3 am from a red eye from New York City and my interview was at 3 pm that same day. The questions were grueling and challenging,” Frank said.

Frank is looking forward to attending Oxford University and obtaining his Master’s in Comparative Social Policy. Frank’s knowledge and drive to win this award came from a number of sources. He has worked hard to build a support system with friends already in the program as well as working with the Arizona State University National Scholarship Office to help expedite the interview process.

“Young adults interested in going for these types of awards should know it is a very lengthy process and to not get discouraged. I have been at it since April 2017. I was fortunate to have great recommendations as well and during the essay process I was able to use those to tell my story,” Frank shared.

As an alumni of foster care in Arizona, Frank has been an outstanding leader and inspiration to us all in his drive to improve outcomes for children caught in the grips of the child welfare system, often speaking with policy-makers. He has repeatedly demonstrated an unfailing ambition to reach and to learn through diverse experiences in the broader public policy world. This is another step in his quest to make a difference in the lives of others.

What’s next for Frank? Start the prep for an August departure to study for two years. Frank’s dream? “Capitol Hill of course!” He said.

Maria Goes to Washington D.C.!

September 7, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

One of twenty-two! That was FAAZ Young Adult Board Member, Maria Rodriguez, who was selected to participate in Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative’s Youth Leadership Institute (YLI). The summer program took Maria from Arizona to Washington D.C. and into our Nation’s Capitol. Maria spent six days training on how to strategically share her story and advocacy agenda with elected officials who have the power to improve the foster care system.

“We had specific training about adolescent development, which is a topic that should be talked about. We made visits on Capitol Hill and shared our views about the expansion of foster care to age 21, especially for the states that don’t have it, and how it could benefit their young people.”

Maria believes youth voice is critical to change. For young people participating in the future, Maria says, “Be prepared to listen, but also, be prepared to speak and participate in the conversations too.” Maria found it cool to hear different points of view from across the nation, and more importantly how the views of her peers can make an impact on the system.

Although Maria is no stranger to advocating in D.C. and speaking to congressional members, she says she learned a lot through this experience and can’t wait to bring back her knowledge to Arizona.

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