2009 All Star Yearbook

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the national network of young people in foster care

12 All-Stars 3752 youth trained 6,691 volunteer hours 73,914 frequent ier miles

In 2004, when FosterClub launched the All-Star internship, a fear that no one would apply seemed to be the largest obstacle. Nay-sayers would suggest “youth won’t want to talk publicly about being in foster care.” Some professionals, smiling slyly, would ask, “How will you get them to apply? No kid will give up their summer. Maybe it should just be a week internship.” But the vision of peer educators, well trained, well prepared, and working as a synchronized unit, deploying them to States to speak to foster youth couldn’t be done in a week. The program remained a summer internship: a demanding application, strong references required, and public speaking was essential. Given these high expectations, were the Nay-sayers right?

Hardly. Over 200 applicants last year for 12 National Spots. And nearly 800 applicants in the five years combined.

This year, several of our All-Stars revealed they had applied to the program several times - unsuccessfully - before receiving an acceptance letter for one of the 12 prestigious spots. To my surprise, over the summer they gladly spoke to their younger peers about their failed attempts. They used it as a lever to explain resilience - and to demonstrate how their determination ultimately paid off. All in an effort to motivate their younger peers to keep hanging on, keep trying, no matter how hard life gets in foster care. While the successes of the All-Stars may be what attracts accolades, their willingness to selflessly share their personal stories of hardship in an effort to give hope to their peers is what makes them true heroes.

Whether sharing their biographies with peers, supportive adults, the media, or policymakers, the All-Stars are able to reconstruct the story of their lives in terms of power and powerlessness, choices and consequence. As they repurpose their stories of victimization, loss and failure into demonstrations of courage, resilience, and determination, they instill hope for every person touched by the foster care system.

On behalf of the 27,000 members of our organization, thanks to all who support the young leaders of FosterClub.

Celeste Bodner, Executive Director

Pictured here: The Level 2 All-Stars provide mentorship and technical asistance to the 2009-10 All-Stars. This year’s Level 2s are (pictured from left to right) Cashmere Hagbourne (Minnesota), Mike Hollinger (Connecticut), and Naomi Porter (New York). Each served as All-Stars in 2008-09.

meet the All-Stars

Erin Young, Age 18 8 years in Missouri’s foster care system Erin spent 8 years living in foster care in St. Louis, Missouri. She entered foster care at the age of 11, and is currently in a foster home that has loved and cared for her for 7 years. Erin has 4 biological siblings, but is currently only connected to 2. She will be aging out of the system in July of 2011, the same day she plans to be adopted. Despite the many struggles she has faced, she graduated high school and is currently in her second year of college, planning to become a Pediatric Nurse and an Obstetrician.

Heather Marone, Age 18 3 years in Connecticut’s foster care system Although Heather now lives independently, she has been in the foster care system for three years and has lived in five different placements. Heather will be attending a vocational college in her home state of Connecticut to become a licensed practical nurse. Her future career goal is to work for Life Star Emergency Services. Heather is a member of her local youth advisory board and the New England Youth Coalition.

Luis Beltran, Age 19 6 years in both Utah and Nevada’s foster care systems Luis entered the foster care system at age 12, and has learned that “with courage and ambition, the possibilities are endless”. Luis experienced over six different placements in Utah and Nevada. Luis is currently attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as a political science major. He plans to become an influential lawyer one day.

Tasha Santos, Age 21 7 years in New York’s foster care system Tasha is a junior at the University of New Orleans where she majors in sociology. Born and raised in New York City, she entered the foster care system at the age of nine. After several different places she was adopted at 16. Tasha has written for the foster teen magazine Represent published by awardwinning Youth Communications. She wants to become a journalist or social worker to help change the misinformation and apathy in the world.

Kita Anderson, Age 21 4 years in California’s foster care system Kita was separated from her 4 siblings when she entered the foster care system at age five. She was adopted but reentered the system 8 years later. After aging out of foster care at age 18, she went on to earn her degree in Psychology at the University of San Francisco. An avid traveler, Kita has been to Thailand, Europe, and Nepal. Kita plans to attend Columbia University in New York to pursue her Masters in Social Work.

Isaiah Williams, Age 20 11 years in New York’s foster care system During Isaiah’s years in care, he experienced 11 different foster homes. He is currently a senior at Herkimer County Community College majoring in Human Services. Isaiah is currently serving as an All-American for Youth in Progress Advisory Team. He serves as a unit scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America. Isaiah lives his life based off of his self-written quote, “Life is all about choices; it is up to me to make the best choice”.

Jeremy Long, Age 21 5 years in Colorado’s foster care system Jeremy spent five years in the Colorado foster care system. With foster care being new to both Jeremy and his foster mom, they met the challenge together. He is currently a senior at the University of Northern Colorado majoring in communication. Jeremy works with his youth leadership board and as a 2009 Jim Casey youth intern to help the voices of other youth to be heard. Jeremy enjoys spending time with his dog and in the company of friends in his free time. He is also an avid tennis player and skier.

Tobias Rogan, Age 19 7 years in Michigan’s foster care system Tobias , a.k.a. “Toby” , entered Michigan’s foster care system at age 12. His family kicked him out of the home because they were unsupportive of his sexual orientation. Quickly learning to live an adult life, he learned to become independent. Seven years later, he aged out of the foster care system. Toby enjoys the newfound life of being a college student majoring in both film and media studies as well as social work. He performs for the school marching band’s ColorGuard.

Mariah Saint Augustine, Age 22 12 years in Minnesota’s foster care system Mariah entered foster care at age 5 due to her mother’s substance abuse. She had 2 different foster placements by age 15. With the support of her last foster family, Mariah recently graduated from the University of Minnesota. After foster care, Mariah found her independence and confidence to succeed, even referring to herself as a “cool dork”. She loves anything related to art and expressing herself. She enjoys cooking, reading books and listening to a wide variety of music.

Stacie Carter, Age 20 1 year in Oregon’s foster care system Stacie lived with her parents most of her life and was also the parent for most of her life. This made the transition into foster care difficult. Despite these difficulties Stacie now attends Western Oregon University.

Stacie loves challenges and as a result of this she wants to become a pediatric ER nurse. She currently volunteers for the Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC), where she advocates for former and current foster youth.

Dhieu Chol Arok, Age 22 3 years in Washington’s foster care system Dhieu moved to the U.S. in 2001 from southern Sudan due to the civil war. He was later placed into foster care at the age of 15 and then aged out of the foster care system. Dhieu went on to attend the University of Portland, graduating in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. He has been supporting his family back in Sudan by sending them money every month, stating “I embrace these responsibilities as an integral part of my life.”

Greta Anderson, Age 20 3 years in Wisconsin’s foster care system Greta entered the Wisconsin foster care system at the age of fifteen; placed in care as a result of a messy family court situation. During her time in care she grappled with being separated from her younger sister and other members of her biological family. She is currently thriving as an art education major at the University of Wisconsin- Stout. Greta can’t wait to get her master’s degree in art therapy and get a job coloring with clients all day. She is slowly becoming the kind of adult she wished for as a kid.

serious about changing life in foster care.

About the All-Stars The FosterClub All-Star Program provides leadership and service opportunities to young people ages 18-24 who have spent their formative years in foster care. For these young adults, who have a commitment to improving outcomes of foster care and believe in grassroots initiation, the AllStar internship is an opportunity to communicate their unique perspectives and share their resilient spirits with their younger peers still struggling through foster care. In addition to participating in dozens of youth events across the country over the summer, the FosterClub All-Stars advocate for system improvement and promote public awareness nationally throughout the year.

during 2009 All-Star internship summer season the All-Stars and Level II interns provided a total of 6,691 hours of service

Events, trainings and speaking engagements: The 2009 All-Stars facilitated workshops and trainings to audiences that included youth in care, foster parents, Court Appointed Special Advocates, administrators and other foster care professionals. The All-Stars also worked on multiple projects in collaboration with Portland State University (PSU). The 2009 Level II interns provided additional participation along with supervision, mentoring, insight and support of the All-Stars’ activities and projects.

June 16th June 17th June 22nd-25th June 25th-28th June 26th-28th July 12th-13th July 14th-15th July 16th July 20th-21st July 22nd July 29th-31st August 3rd-5th August 13th-14th August 13th-15th

Tillamook, Oregon Transition Panel Astoria, Oregon Transition Panel Oregon Teen Conference California Teen Conference Connecticut Teen Conference Oregon Younger Teen Conference National CASA Event, Washington Native American Retreat, Oregon Tillamook Oregon Teen Retreat Peer Mentoring institute at PSU Minnesota Teen Conference New Mexico Teen Conference Nevada Teen Conference Arkansas Teen Conference

Post-Summer Activities: September 1st-4th October 9th-11th

Daniel Memorial, Tennessee Minnesota Fall Teen Conference

Social Media Workgroup: Three 2009 All-Stars continue to work in collaboration with FosterClub staff. This group meets on a regular basis via phone conferencing to discuss the current trends of Social Media and youth in foster care.

2009 All-Stars are also reporting back on local and state opportunities that they are being invited to attend. These events vary from youth board involvement, presenting workshops, consulting and key note presentations.

We are excited for what the All-Star 2009 class will contribute to their States and the Nation in helping to improve outcomes in the foster care system.

At right: Greta, our Wisconsin All-Star (pictured here on a web broadcast from Washington DC) received a personal invitation to testify in Congress on the implementation of the landmark foster care legislation passed in 2008.

She was also invited to help celebrate the anniversary of the Chaffee Act by participating in a conference call launching the new federal website dedicated to assisting states in the implementation of the different components within the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.

curriculum

The All-Stars were trained to deliver the following workshops:

Can You Relate Provides young people with an understanding of how their foster care and pre-system experiences might contribute to their future relationships.

Information to help youth make healthy personal decisions.

Getting Solid Understanding permanence and the role it plays for young people, both in care and as they transition to life on their own. Helps youth to identify and develop relationships with supportive adults.

Foster to Famous Discusses the concept of resilience, analyzes formulas of success of people who thrive after foster care.

Participants develop their own storyline.

Getting Solid Advanced Help young people identify potential permanence resources. Develops a game plan and provides tools for establishing and retaining permanence with supportive adults.

Foster Care 411 Provides young people with an overview about how foster care works.

Give Back Get Ahead Youth (preferably groups) design and plan their own community service projects to raise foster care awareness, recruit foster parents, or meet other community needs.

FYI Case Plan Encourages youth participation in their foster care plan, helps build selfadvocacy skills.

Get Educated Engage and prepare young people for higher education.

It’s Who You Know Build skills in networking to gain employment and career opportunities.

Youth learn basic skills for professional communication.

Milestones Reflection on and documentation of one’s life milestones, building strength through resiliency.

Relatively Speaking (formerly titled “Bio-Hazard”) Build skills for safe and healthy relationships, interpersonal relationship skills.

T-Time Youth engagement in their case plan, understanding the importance of transition planning and preparation.

Tell It Like It is Learn to reframe foster care experiences as expertise. Youth learn how to safely tell stories by retaining boundaries, and understanding the purpose for which one might share a personal story.

The All Stars were trained to lead these general session activities as team presenters: Case by Case Improve self-advocacy skills and youth participation in their case plan through an improved understanding of how the foster care system works.

Youth Speak Youth leadership development, improve advocacy skills, prepare youth for the transition to adulthood; influence system improvement while incorporating youth voice.

Independence City To successfully overcome obstacles by utilizing community resources, critical thinking and decision making skills, money and time management, understanding the effect of one’s choices on outcomes.

All-Star Panel As a group, the moderated panel answers questions from the audience, such as “How do I go on knowing I will never see my sister again?” are answered by one of the AS who was directly impacted by a similar situation.

Over the summer the All-stars were also taught many additional signature FosterClub activities and team building activities that were facilitated through their summer activities.

Collaboration with Portland State University 2009 marks the fourth year of partnering with the School of Social Work at Portland State University. The goal of the partnership is to provide a Collaborative Learning Exchange for the FosterClub All-Stars, Portland State University Faculty, and Graduate Students enrolled in the School of Social Work.

The objective of the 2009 Portland State University collaboration was to create online training modules for foster parents. The All-Stars chose topics, did research, and held workgroup meetings with their designated PSU Professor/Mentors. At the end of the summer the teams submitted the module outline and final presentation to PSU professors and administrators.

Below are the dates in which team FosterClub traveled to PSU to meet for workgroups and presentations: June 2nd – Introduction and first workgroup session with PSU professors July 22nd – second workgroup session with PSU professors August 6th – final workgroup with PSU professors August 10th – final presentation with PSU dean and professors

Partnership with National Resoource Center for Youth Services For the third year, The National Resource Center for Youth Services partnered with FosterClub to provide two internship opportunities to alumni of the FosterClub AllStar Program.

Daryle Conquering Bear and Chris Andrade served this role in 2009. They worked with NRC staff to present trainings, develop curriculum, and provide youth perspective on various projects.

thank you Thank you to the following sponsoring states and national organizations who invested to make the 2009 All-Star season possible: 2009 State Sponsors • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Michigan • Minnesota • Nevada • New York • Oregon • Washington • Wisconsin 2009 National Sponsors: • National CASA • Discovery Land Company Foundation

If you have any questions about the All-Star Program or want to partner with FosterClub for the 2010 class of All-Stars contact our office at

503-717-1552 or email Gina Simone at gina@fosterclub.com.

the national network for young people in foster care

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