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Let’s Get Personal!

Let’s Get Personal!. Personal Perspective from a Former Foster Youth. Crystal L. Williams Founding Member, EmpowerMEnt Author Youth Advocate Public Speaker Business Owner. MY STORY. Memphis to Atlanta age 9 Shelter to shelter Never attended the same school Entered foster care at 10

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Let’s Get Personal!

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  1. Let’s Get Personal! Personal Perspective from a Former Foster Youth

  2. Crystal L. WilliamsFounding Member, EmpowerMEntAuthor Youth Advocate Public SpeakerBusiness Owner

  3. MY STORY • Memphis to Atlanta age 9 • Shelter to shelter • Never attended the same school • Entered foster care at 10 • Disconnected from: • Extended family Support • Siblings • Mother • School • Community

  4. MY STORY: RECONNECTED • Supportive home • Encouraged to participate in activities (School, church) • Excelled in school (Graduated from HS, college) • Located areas on interest • Reconnecting with biological family: STILL IN PROGRESS! • Maintaining connection with Adoptive family

  5. ADULT ADOPTION: ITS POSSIBLE!

  6. Disconnected Youth The foster care/adoption experience can make it difficult for young people to trust and to connect after a traumatic event occurs. • Youth may experience: • Physical aggression to adults • Sexual acting out • Eating disorders • Conduct disorders • Hyperactivity • Withdrawal

  7. SOCIALCAPITAL FAMILY SCHOOL “Social capital is comprised of social networks and social relationships, a bonding between similar and a bridging between diverse people.* *Adler & Kwon, 2002; Dekker & Uslaner, 2001; Uslaner, 2001 COMMUNITY PEERS

  8. DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES • Graduated Independence • Mentors, Communications to build social capital • Strategic investment in a young person’s future • Young people as drivers • Challenging a young person to reach goals (WTLP)

  9. GRADUATED INDEPENDENCE • Providing youth the tools and resources to live inter-dependently • Connected by 21 (CB21) must look different • How to connect to community (bridging and bonding) • PROGRAMS ARE NOT ENOUGH!

  10. RECOMMENDATIONS • Youth are empowered to complete college/trade/employment • New measures are put into place to ensure that ALL YOUTH have access to developmentally appropriate housing that is safe, sustainable, and stable • Youth obtain Employment and Job seeking skills that are dynamic and transferable • Educational goals are assessed on a case by case basis • Emphasis on social/emotional healing to promote network building and community connections • Transitional resources for all youth regardless if they choose to go to school or enter the workforce directly

  11. QUESTIONS?

  12. Leave your mark in INKImagineNationsKreative.com

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