The Lived Experience of Foster Care
A paramount role of a clinical social worker working with youth in foster care is hearing their voice. Adolescents deserve their voice being heard regarding their case plan, to include such things as establishing their goals, placement decisions and plans for their future. However, for adolescents in child welfare, the ability to have the robust capacity to identify and… Continue reading Youth Advocacy and Leadership in Child Welfare
In thinking about resiliency in clinical practice, most seek to understand the special quality about an individual that helps him overcome adversity. In a simplistic version of this inquiry, the professional may look at a person's characteristics to ascertain what makes him stronger than another, as if resiliency is located within a person rather than how he is affected by his lived experience. In an attempt to complicate the construct of resilience, by using… Continue reading Fostering Resilient Outcomes
“Do you feel that being in foster care has the changed the way you view yourself?” “How has where you lived and who you lived with impacted the way you see the world?” “How about your view of others?” “Do you think that your experience before and during your foster care placement will have any longstanding effects on your… Continue reading The Lived Experience of Foster Care
On January 22, 2017, Naika Venant a 14-year-old girl committed suicide while in the care of the Florida child welfare system in Miami. She streamed the progression of her self inflicted death on Facebook Live for over two hours from the bathroom of her foster home. Horrifically, there were a reported 1,000 views which should have brought attention and help to Naika, but the opposite happened.… Continue reading Has Compassion Disappeared?
Yes, you have read the title right! I have created a podcast. For an intimate look into the foster care system, listen to the interview I had with Sam a foster care alumni. In this podcast, I explore with Sam his journey from entrance into foster care to present, at age 25. We explore the impact that… Continue reading Listen Carefully…A Podcast
There is now a podcast for almost any topic out there from politics, philosophy, crime investigation, and yes, even foster care! The now infamous series Serial, with over 80 million downloads, brought the podcast to its now current status of the "go to" on demand listen while engaging in our day to day tasks. Well, truth be told, I am… Continue reading What’s that Podcast About?
"My past defines me. This is who I am. I am unseen, unheard, unwanted. That is what I am. If I am even anything." ReMoved ReMoved is a poignant short film that portrays the lived foster care experience. The film was written and produced by Nathanael and Christina Matanick to raise awareness of the pain and hopelessness felt by children in the… Continue reading ReMoved: Understanding the Lived Foster Care Experience
Going to school just seems like a run of the mill normal expectation for children. A child turns 5 and he starts his formal schooling experience. While most children may probably say they would rather not go to school, they appear to succeed in interacting with teachers, learning new lessons, as well as being exposed to social experiences in developing friendships… Continue reading What About My Education?
We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this type of poverty. -Mother Teresa
Pictures speak louder than words! Look at this image of how children and youth in foster care may be feeling and ask yourself "How can I help?"
Fostered and Misunderstood 