2015 CHEE presentation by ACTION Ohio

1. December 10, 2015

2. • We bring together the voices of foster care youth,
alumni and allies, to create lasting change and
generate hope for current and former foster youth,
based on access to resources, ally support and alumni
expertise.
Alumni of Care Together
Improving Outcomes Now

3. Transition to Young Adulthood for
a young person growing up with their biological family

4. Challenges faced by a young person
who “ages out” of foster care

5. Lack of Family Privilege

6. Point of Transition:
Child and Adult Systems
Disconnection
Child Mental Health
Mental Health
Child Welfare
Special Education
Juvenile Justice Criminal Justice
Food Stamps
Workforce
Housing

7. Life’s Transitions
Do Not Happen
Overnight
Recommended Reading: Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2012
Foster Youth Internship Report

8. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project

9. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
Risk of Stigma

10. Case file exercise

11. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
“Reclaim and Reframe”

12. Recommendation:
On the day of the event, be careful not to draw attention to
participating youth being “foster kids” to people outside of the circle of
trust.
Two things that worked well in 2015:
- Ending the day with a panel of students, including a foster care alumna who
is currently attending OSU
- The way that the workshop on counseling and consultation services for
students was handled

13. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
“Take Another Seat”

14. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
Context of Behavior

16. Recommendation:
On the day of the event, post the schedule of activities first thing.
Foster care is unpredictable, by nature.
Letting young people know “why” they are there, and what to expect
increases their security and empowerment.

17. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
Treasuring memories

18. Practical Tips for the Interviews:
1. When you interview youth and ask them questions, please
provide the “why” and the “what” you are planning to do with
that information.
2. Value of a strengths-based approach
3. Themes and topics that might come up in the interviews.
4. Utilizing a “circle back” technique if/when youth get off-topic

19. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
“Strengths Based”

20. Fragmented Family Tree

21. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
Chosen family

22. Foster Care Alumni of America’s
“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
Adoption