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9 Responses to “A Mix of Comments from Anyone about Any and All Foster Care Related Topics”
Feel free to use this blog to ask questions or bring up topics or ideas for topics…feel free to post comments on this blog regarding any foster care topic you want and more than one topic…as many topics as you want… Thank you
i would like to know how those youth feel when they are just exiting care?? Do you want to be left alone? or do you want to be involved in other programs that you qualify for? And if you do want to be involved would you feel comfortable in having a connection contact you via email or phone?
I don’t want to be left alone. some kind of involvement would be ok. It’s crappy to leave foster care when there is nobody you can talk to, even one phone call a week is better than being completley alone. knowing that there is other programs out there makes me feel safe so that if there is a chance i might fail there is something to fall back on.
Is there some kind of like youth camp or youth group available on a weekly basis that is only for youth in foster care? Like there own club where they can meet other kids in foster care because even you tell someone that there not alone they are going to feel alone until they meet someone like them.
I apologize for not responding to your question Marlene!
I know that there are youth councils that always need Alumni youth involved, There is also the annual Summit coming up on August 5 & 6. It will be held at Southern Utah University! I was the chair person for the committe this year & it’s going to be great!!! In fact I was trying to contact alumni youth that might want to car pool down to the summit & possibly help facilitate!!!
I am TAL Transition to adult living youth Liaison for Child and Family Services, and one thing that I have been struggling with is finding all my alumni youth, and I fear it’s because they don’t want to be found, and that makes me nervouse because we are aluni, we can help out & make things better for the younger youth, we are the one’s that will help change & better programs for the sake of our younger siblings.
I really hope that the alumni’s voice grows and we as a group can develop more oppportunity for the other youth, I understand getting out of care & wanting to just get completely away, but it’s impossible to change who we are and where we come from. Foster care is in each of us, it gave us strength & power to build that strength! It would be great to build a strong foundation & come together to build our own committee’s so that we can understand each other, communicate positively & remind the youth that we are awesome, capable, and have the ability to change things!!!
Just remember we may all be from different walks of life, but we are “connected” through foster care! And that’s……..ok!!!!!!!
I have a question for the youth just getting out of care, you may be from the ages of 18-21. I have tried contacting youth just exiting care, and some are angry when I mention DCFS, I understand there are a lot of deep rooted issues, I have a sibling that’s going through a similar situation. But I’m not sure If the alumni youth want me to contact them, and if so what are some things that I can help with?
So I’m a few years above your age range of 18-21 but I did age out through the Independent Living Program as did my younger brother and have had contact with a number of former foster youth. There are certainly a wide range of experiences that I’ve heard about people having in the foster care system. Some had decent or even good experiences, but don’t want to maintain their identity as a foster kid and so have no desire to be associated with the label. Others that I know had poor to horrible experiences in care (either in their foster homes or with their experience transitioning out of custody) and have painful memories and emotions regarding “the system” and its role in their lives.
That is why I believe uFOSTERsucecss has such an important place in society and in the foster care alumni “community”. I think it would be more powerful to have those people and organizations with the responsibility and/or desire to help and engage with foster youth and alumni to do so through a connection to the larger community. If we can establish a credible, safe, and authentic community where youth and alumni of the foster care system can go to for various support and connections, it will make engaging with “us” a much better experience for all parties.
I know that I would have loved support in aging out of foster care! Fortunately, I had a good community with my church at the time, but without it, I would have had a very hard time without some community to support me.
I have heard of homes for people age 18-21 to transition out of foster care and help them get used to living independently! Does anyone know if such homes exist? If so, how do youth find out about them, and what are the requirements for them to live in such homes?
For Youth, I encourage you to get involved in some kind of community! Whether it be a church community or a club or a classmate community, having people who care about you around is very important when you age out of foster care. I know it can be hard to trust people, after some of the challenges and upsets you have already dealt with, but surrounding yourself with a community, can help you, especially if there are people in those communities who are positive and understanding of what you are dealing with. Also, don’t be afraid to let people know what you are dealing with. Many people are supportive and give great advice. I am not saying to just join any random group or community. Trust your instincts! You can also research programs and groups/organizations on the internet and find out if they are credible. Talk to Teachers, and counselors that you already know and trust, and find out if they know about positive programs, and communities you can get involved with. Above all, just know that you do not have to do everything alone!
I don’t know if transitional housing is available for foster alumni in every state but I hope so!
There is however transitional housing available in some areas of Utah for foster alumni ages 18-21 who have aged out of foster care. If you live in Utah you can see if transitional housing is available in your area by calling or emailing the TAL Coodinator in your region:
For other questions about what resources are available for the alumni and youth of foster care in Utah call 1-888-45-YOUTH or visit http://www.justforyouth.utah.gov
May 29th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Feel free to use this blog to ask questions or bring up topics or ideas for topics…feel free to post comments on this blog regarding any foster care topic you want and more than one topic…as many topics as you want… Thank you
June 4th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
i would like to know how those youth feel when they are just exiting care?? Do you want to be left alone? or do you want to be involved in other programs that you qualify for? And if you do want to be involved would you feel comfortable in having a connection contact you via email or phone?
June 24th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I don’t want to be left alone. some kind of involvement would be ok. It’s crappy to leave foster care when there is nobody you can talk to, even one phone call a week is better than being completley alone. knowing that there is other programs out there makes me feel safe so that if there is a chance i might fail there is something to fall back on.
Is there some kind of like youth camp or youth group available on a weekly basis that is only for youth in foster care? Like there own club where they can meet other kids in foster care because even you tell someone that there not alone they are going to feel alone until they meet someone like them.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I apologize for not responding to your question Marlene!
I know that there are youth councils that always need Alumni youth involved, There is also the annual Summit coming up on August 5 & 6. It will be held at Southern Utah University! I was the chair person for the committe this year & it’s going to be great!!! In fact I was trying to contact alumni youth that might want to car pool down to the summit & possibly help facilitate!!!
I am TAL Transition to adult living youth Liaison for Child and Family Services, and one thing that I have been struggling with is finding all my alumni youth, and I fear it’s because they don’t want to be found, and that makes me nervouse because we are aluni, we can help out & make things better for the younger youth, we are the one’s that will help change & better programs for the sake of our younger siblings.
I really hope that the alumni’s voice grows and we as a group can develop more oppportunity for the other youth, I understand getting out of care & wanting to just get completely away, but it’s impossible to change who we are and where we come from. Foster care is in each of us, it gave us strength & power to build that strength! It would be great to build a strong foundation & come together to build our own committee’s so that we can understand each other, communicate positively & remind the youth that we are awesome, capable, and have the ability to change things!!!
Just remember we may all be from different walks of life, but we are “connected” through foster care! And that’s……..ok!!!!!!!
July 11th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I have a question for the youth just getting out of care, you may be from the ages of 18-21. I have tried contacting youth just exiting care, and some are angry when I mention DCFS, I understand there are a lot of deep rooted issues, I have a sibling that’s going through a similar situation. But I’m not sure If the alumni youth want me to contact them, and if so what are some things that I can help with?
August 16th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
December 31st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
So I’m a few years above your age range of 18-21 but I did age out through the Independent Living Program as did my younger brother and have had contact with a number of former foster youth. There are certainly a wide range of experiences that I’ve heard about people having in the foster care system. Some had decent or even good experiences, but don’t want to maintain their identity as a foster kid and so have no desire to be associated with the label. Others that I know had poor to horrible experiences in care (either in their foster homes or with their experience transitioning out of custody) and have painful memories and emotions regarding “the system” and its role in their lives.
That is why I believe uFOSTERsucecss has such an important place in society and in the foster care alumni “community”. I think it would be more powerful to have those people and organizations with the responsibility and/or desire to help and engage with foster youth and alumni to do so through a connection to the larger community. If we can establish a credible, safe, and authentic community where youth and alumni of the foster care system can go to for various support and connections, it will make engaging with “us” a much better experience for all parties.
January 10th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I know that I would have loved support in aging out of foster care! Fortunately, I had a good community with my church at the time, but without it, I would have had a very hard time without some community to support me.
I have heard of homes for people age 18-21 to transition out of foster care and help them get used to living independently! Does anyone know if such homes exist? If so, how do youth find out about them, and what are the requirements for them to live in such homes?
For Youth, I encourage you to get involved in some kind of community! Whether it be a church community or a club or a classmate community, having people who care about you around is very important when you age out of foster care. I know it can be hard to trust people, after some of the challenges and upsets you have already dealt with, but surrounding yourself with a community, can help you, especially if there are people in those communities who are positive and understanding of what you are dealing with. Also, don’t be afraid to let people know what you are dealing with. Many people are supportive and give great advice. I am not saying to just join any random group or community. Trust your instincts! You can also research programs and groups/organizations on the internet and find out if they are credible. Talk to Teachers, and counselors that you already know and trust, and find out if they know about positive programs, and communities you can get involved with. Above all, just know that you do not have to do everything alone!
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I don’t know if transitional housing is available for foster alumni in every state but I hope so!
There is however transitional housing available in some areas of Utah for foster alumni ages 18-21 who have aged out of foster care. If you live in Utah you can see if transitional housing is available in your area by calling or emailing the TAL Coodinator in your region:
Northern Region: Sarah Pomeroy, 801-629-5817 email SPOMEROY@utah.gov
Salt Lake Valley: Roland Oliver, 801-488-2650 email ROLIVER@utah.gov
Western Region: Troy Gasser, 801-224-7824 email TGASSER@utah.gov
Eastern Region: Colleen Cook, 435-636-0206 email COLLEENCOOK@utah.gov
Southwest Region: Mike Beacco, 435-652-2960 email MBEACCO@utah.gov
For other questions about what resources are available for the alumni and youth of foster care in Utah call 1-888-45-YOUTH or visit http://www.justforyouth.utah.gov