News | Fostering Advocates Arizona

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.

Living Foster Care

May 30, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

FAAZ Young Adult Board Member, Frank Smith, challenged Joe Jacober to “live foster care” through the FAAZ Day in the Life challenge. Joe’s challenge was to be patted down for an entire week every time he entered his home. This challenge reflected one of Frank’s own experiences while in foster care.

Frankly, it was humiliating. Walking into my own house and being patted down seemed sad. For what reason was I being patted down? What are you looking for? What do you think I am hiding? Don’t you trust me? These were the thoughts going through my head each time I came home,” Joe shared.

When asked how this challenge enhanced Joe’s understanding of the experiences some youth in foster care could face, he responded, “Having been a foster parent for more than 15 years, I thought I had a grasp of the issues faced by youth in foster care, but this challenged surprised me. It is amazing to think that any child or young person would have to experience something like this. If there is such a lack of trust between me (or the youth in foster care), how would we ever have a growing and nurturing relationship if every time you greeted me you were saying … ” I don’t trust you”. Not exactly a welcoming feeling.”

The Day in the Life blog series, is an effort spearheaded by the FAAZ Young Adult Leadership Board, to raise community awareness of the need for normalcy within foster care, supported under the Federal Strengthening Families Act (SFA). Moreover, with SFA, foster families have the support and trust they need to create “normal” living environments and experiences for youth in their care. This helps develop open and compassionate relationships between caregivers and youth to create trusting and stable relationships.

“I am often approached with questions about being a foster parent, but rarely about what it is like to be in foster care. I learned that I need to be much more open and mindful of the experiences youth in foster care, especially older youth, may be going through, if I truly expect to be a good advocate for them,” Jacober.

A special thank you to Joe Jacober and Frank Smith for sharing their “Day in the Life” experiences!

Introducing Jesus!

September 23, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

We are excited to announce the welcoming of Jesus, our newest Fostering Advocates Arizona Young Adult Board Member. We are thrilled he is joining our team and bringing his knowledge and experience of the foster care system in Arizona with him. With his guidance, we will continue to advocate for positive changes and better outcomes for young people.
When asked what Jesus is passionate about he responded,

To say I like helping people is an understatement. As a matter a fact, my whole life’s goal revolves around the pursuit to help people. My passion is to aid the less fortunate and to improve the lives of others.”

Want to know more about Jesus and meet the rest of our awesome Board? Click here!

I Speak Change. Youth Speak FAAZ.

April 28, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

ISpeakChangeAdvocacy

The key to making our Initiative great is the talented individuals on the Young Adult Leadership Board. Hear from them on the reasons they joined FAAZ!

“I love being part of the Young Adult Leadership Board because I enjoy collaborating with my fellow Board Members on new ideas to improve the foster care system.” – Maria

“FAAZ has taught me how to use my voice to advocate for youth who have experienced foster care through workshops, trainings, and public events.” – Adrian

WeSpeakAdvocacy

“By building strong relationships with my peers on the board, I have learned that anything is possible for youth in foster care to overcome, despite the many obstacles we face and will continue to face.”- Stefani

“I love being part of FAAZ because I have learned how to share my story strongly and effectively.”-Amber

Speaking-Change-Action

“I joined FAAZ to pay it forward and help children and youth in foster care, just as individuals helped me get to the postivie place I am at in my life.”- Ben

“Being part of FAAZ has allowed me the opportunity to meet a group of amazing individuals that have become very dear friends of mine. I have also learned so much about policy and the importance of speaking your voice to advocate for change at the state legislature.” -Desaray

“What I love is that we all have different backgrounds and experiences yet we advocate for one reason-to improve outcomes for youth in foster care…..and everyone on the board has huge hearts <3”- Patience

“I like being on the board because I can use my experience to help other young parents who are in school, like myself, because I know firsthand the struggle they face.”- Brittany

“By being part of FAAZ I have gained many skills such as advocacy, public speaking, and leadership. As a board we build each other up and become one voice to advocate for kids who are or were in our shoes.”- Ashley

I joined the FAAZ Young Adult Leadership Board because I want to be able to improve the child welfare system in Arizona for all of my foster care brothers and sisters across the state that are currently experiencing what I went through.” – Frank