Hello everyone! I've never posted in the Community section, although I've frequented Feministing itself for quite a few years now... So--
When I think about feminism, I think about empowerment, courage, social justice. I also think about a commitment to principles and ethics. I think about these same things when I consider what it takes to succeed as a former foster youth.
As a long-time feminist, former foster youth, and current advocate/mentor, I'd like to alert this feministing community to the fact that May is National Foster Care Month!
What does this mean? Well, I guess it means that during May some people might take time out of their day to acknowledge the challenges that current and former foster youth face. The majority of youth in the system have experienced neglect and abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, mental-- it goes on and on). Most foster youth ultimately lack a positive (or any) support network as they bounce around from placement to placement, "home" to "home," "family" to "family" and so forth...
I think feminists make the best type of mentor/advocate and I encourage you all to take the leap and make a positive influence in someone's life.
So, does anyone here mentor or advocate on behalf of any type of youth? If so, what compels you? If not, what's preventing you from doing so? Are you a former foster youth? How has feminism and your experience in foster care influenced each other? Hey, feel free to write anything as it relates to foster youth. Visibility is good.
Lauren
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At the moment in between studying Human Biology, working as a waitress and saving for a holiday in Amsterdam - I've started mentoring a friend of mine in feminism and vegetarianism and I do volunteer work at an awesome equal opportunity op shop. I wish I had time for more :(
My parents were going to take in a foster child when I was younger, however, being blue collar workers they weren't financially in the position to do so :(
http://www.nationalcasa.org/index.asp
Become a CASA volunteer! CASA guardian ad litems advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. The program is all across the country and needs volunteers from all walks of life - especially men and people of color, since right now the makeup of the volunteer pool does not reflect the families in the system (I think only 13% of all volunteers are male).
(a now former lurker here)
YES! I work for a child and family services agency, though not directly with kids and families. Of the many unique and progressive attributes of the agency, I think the best is that they constantly strive to empower the youth and their families and build community safety nets. Instead of clinicians being "in charge", it is the child and their family who decide what the end goals are, and are given options in how to get there. Additionally, the clinicians and social workers (who for the most part are representative of the community) build huge networks of teachers, other family members, health workers, mentors, neighbors, and friends to make sure that there will always be someone there for the youth. For me, this is critical because it gives ownership of their lives back to kids, rather than seeing them as the traditional "ward of the state". There's something surprisingly radical of seeing young people as people, and not property of their parents/the state.
It's also really awesome that we advocate for single parent/queer families as foster families, and have programs for GBLTQ teens!