Programs | Fostering Advocates Arizona

Opportunity Passport™ April Survey Month!

April 10, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

It’s that time again- Opportunity Passport™ April Survey Month! Young adults enrolled in the Opportunity Passport™ program NEED to complete their participant survey by Sunday, April 30th 2017. This is your chance to tell us how the program is working for you!

Why is this important? First, by completing the survey you automatically receive $$$$$40 (that’s like 8 coffees from Starbucks!). Secondly, by completing the survey it ensures you remain active in the program. The Opportunity Passport™ coordinator is reaching out to all enrolled youth, so be sure to check your voicemail’s and emails with survey details. When you are ready to take your survey, click HERE and on the right side bar you will see “TAKE THE SURVEY”!

For more information on how to take your survey, or if you are having trouble accessing your survey, reach out to the Opportunity Passport™ coordinator at: cynnetta.boykin@rescue.org

“Those Three Numbers Say A Lot About You”

May 26, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

Eliah)Blog

They say wisdom comes with age, which rings true for Eliah as he’s realized early on that, “those three numbers say a lot about you.”

The three numbers Eliah is referring to are an individual’s FICO credit score.

“As I have gotten older, and now that I have a family, I have come to realize how important a good credit score is and how it impacts so many things.”

Opportunity Passport™ participant Eliah is going BIG and using his full savings match of $3,000 to build his credit.

“Building my credit is essential as it helps with obtaining and maintaining assets in the future, including getting a low interest loan for a car and a house. Not to mention, employers can pull your credit score so it ultimately impacts your employment.”

Eliah is one of the many young adults in Opportunity Passport™ to apply the savings strategies learned from the program to purchase an approved asset to help with financial stability.

“The Opportunity Passport™ program was VERY helpful for me as it taught me how to budget my money, evaluate my expenses, and to recognize the difference between my ‘wants’ and ‘needs’. It also taught me the importance of saving money for a rainy day in case an emergency happened. It’s not about me anymore it’s about my kids.”

Find out how YOU can “Sponsor A Youth” and help a young adult like Eliah purchase a life changing asset.

Cruisin with Opportunity Passport!

May 19, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

A participant of Opportunity Passport™, Blake is among 11 young adults in the program to save their hard earned money and purchase a vehicle with the support of the programs match funds.

The Opportunity Passport™ program helped me to accomplish my goals by matching the $1,100 I saved, for a total of $2,200, as a down payment to purchase my very own vehicle.”

Once Blake bought his car, he was better equipped to search and apply for employment. It was not long after he made his purchase that he got a job with a local business.

“Having the support of the program helped me a lot!” With one-on-one assistance from staff, Blake learned how to research used cars values through Kelly Bluebook to make sure he was purchasing a reliable car.

As a youth who has experienced foster care, it is easy to get stuck in limbo. If it was not for Casey Family Programs referring me to Opportunity Passport™, securing the match-funds and getting guidance from the Opportunity Passport™ staff, it would have been difficult to accomplish what I have today.”

Blake is now saving to move into his own apartment and is planning on using the rest of his match funds from the program to help pay for the security deposit and additional move in costs.

Find out how you can sponsor a youth like Blake by clicking here!

I Speak Change. Youth Speak Parenting.

March 31, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

Parenting is a new adventure every day. Along with my husband, we are proud parents to our two little boys and my younger brother who we adopted. Parenting is one of the most impactful jobs a person can have. You are a guide, advocate, protector, and provider.

Being a young woman who has experienced foster care, I did not have parental figures to show me how to be all of those things, and simply put, to be a mom. Fortunately, when we had our first child we were connected to Healthy Families who provided trained staff to visit our home and work with our family one-on-one to provide guidance and support as new parents. Since I did not have parental figures to ask for advice, Healthy Families provided answers to my questions such as the developmental stages and milestones of children. They also connected us to resources around the community that without their support we would have never known about.

Family is forever. My husband, children, and siblings have always been my top priority. When my siblings and I entered foster care, my four brothers and I were separated. While two of my youngest brothers were adopted by a family out of state, my 19 year old brother lives with us and we were able to adopt my other brother; a memorable moment as it meant we would be a family forever.

I have learned that parenting is a team effort. I am the mother I am today in large part because of my supportive husband, he is my number one fan! He helps get the kids ready in the morning, looks after the kids while I am at work and school, and is supportive of breastfeeding which is a big commitment. We were also fortunate to have great support from our case manager Kimberly Aguilera, from Casey Family Programs, as she was especially helpful in finding resources for my brothers and I.

As I said, being a parent is a new adventure every day, however it is the most rewarding adventure I have embarked on, and I am so fortunate for the support we have received along the way.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

December 11, 2015 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

In today’s trending news, we are highlighting 14 year old Zak who reached his longtime goal of opening a savings and checking account with help from Opportunity Passport™!

Zak currently lives in a group home, is attending school and employed part time so he can save for his educational future. Like Zak, many youth who experience foster care do not have access to savings accounts to safely deposit their money. The result; they end up keeping their earnings in an unsecured box hidden in their room or under a mattress. With assistance from the Opportunity Passport™ Coordinator, Zak took the program‘s Savings and Investments Training and now has a secure bank account!

Zak is currently saving to buy a laptop for school and has been working with the Opportunity Passport™ coordinator on a savings plan and goal. Once he is ready to purchase a laptop, his savings will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the many generous individuals who chose to “Sponsor a Path” for a youth who has experienced foster care. You too can “Sponsor a Path” and support a young adult’s future independence.

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