Shontay Olson, Ed.M.’s Post

When youth transition out of foster care, the challenges are significant—but so are the opportunities. Supervised Independent Living Programs (SILPs) can improve youth outcomes in higher education, stable employment, safe #Housing, and self-sufficiency. These programs are most effective when they’re inclusive and tailored to the unique needs of Black, Brown, and #LGBTQIA+ youth who are disproportionately impacted by foster care. By prioritizing funding, collaboration, and cultural competence, we can help more young people successfully transition to adulthood. Explore insights in our new policy report: https://lnkd.in/gbMpVmDn

Finding joy, meaning, and purpose in your work is so profound. For many, this alignment is now a requirement. While undoubtedly a tough gig, I'm so thankful to have and hold the spirit of community in and around me. At Hanna, we've been on a journey of resetting and recentering our purpose and identifying values that align with who we are and who we (individually and collectively) want to be, alongside the behaviors that we need to uphold to drive community, innovation and performance. As a brand deeply rooted in purpose and community, one of our values is “warm-hearted.” Giving centered around children's livelihoods has always been a central part of Hanna Andersson ‘s soul. After reviewing many organizations and potential partners in size and scope, this week, we announced our partnership with Foster Love - Together We Rise a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing foster youth. Foster Love - Together We Rise began as a sports camp offering after-school enrichment to foster youth who otherwise could not afford the activity of play. As the charity grew, it began tackling more significant problems, including access to higher education, emergency resources, and more. There are over 430,000 children in foster care and only 214,421 licensed foster parents, which means foster parents and agencies are often left with limited resources, and we’re hopeful that through our partnership, we too can support efforts in bringing wholesome experiences that empower kids to discover, grow and embrace the joys of childhood. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission and values, and I'm excited about the positive impact we can make together. #purposealigned #championsofchildhood #socialimpact

Imagine stepping into adulthood... Without the basic support networks that many of us take for granted... This is the challenging reality for thousands of young individuals transitioning out of foster care annually. Despite difficulties, they show remarkable resilience. What they need more: ➡ Training programs provide valuable guidance on creating loving environments. ➡Regular support, such as counseling and breaks, offers much-needed relief. ➡a supportive fostering of community. #community #fostercaremonth #youth #youthinneed

This Black History Month, let's spotlight the need for systemic change within the foster care system. With African-American youth 2-3x more likely to be in foster care, Fostering Promise is dedicated to transforming policies to ensure equity and justice for all children. https://buff.ly/3wljoR0 Join us in this important mission. #SystemicChange

Curious about having the Normalcy conversation with youth in care? Check out: Having the Normalcy Conversation: A Guide for Discussing Developmentally Appropriate Services for Children, Youth, and Young Adults in Foster Care https://buff.ly/44N6zw1 #NationalFosterCareMonth

To acknowledge #BlackHistoryMonth, we aim to highlight the importance of this month for the children within our foster care system. 💛 At CASA for Children, we strive to continuously improve our practices to not inadvertently perpetuate harm that we know is caused by the dependency system. We see that Black youth in foster care are more likely to be removed from their homes, are less likely to receive services and reunify with their families, as well as spend more time in foster care. 🔎 According to the Child Welfare Data Book, between June 2022 and July 2023, 12% of the youth in foster care in our service area identified as Black or African American. However, in Oregon, Black and African American youth only account for 3-5% of the total youth population. Our trained CASA volunteers help bridge gaps for Black children in a system that often neglects their needs, offering understanding, services, and a safe home. To learn more about how to become a CASA advocate, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gCk5ffPm Plus, join our email list to celebrate our 2024 theme, “African Americans and the ARTS,” where we’ll provide data and resources. Whether through painting, writing, poetry, performance, or any other medium, art has long provided Black and African American people—some of whom have experienced the foster care system—with a way to document and share their experiences. https://lnkd.in/eKZSZygm

Many young adults rely on their parents for financial and emotional support well into their twenties. But what about those who "graduate" from foster care each year? These young people often enter adulthood abruptly and without the same level of support. While some states offer extended foster care, many of these vulnerable young adults deserve even more. They need the kind of creativity and commitment that biological and adoptive parents provide for their own children. If you want to learn more about this important issue and how we can support these young adults, read the full article below: https://lnkd.in/eVY_fTGi Youth Empowerment Success Services - Helping Youth become housed, educated, employed, and connected 💚 www.yess4youth.org #FosterCare #SupportYoungAdults #EveryChildMatters #YouthEmpowerment #FosterCare #AgingOut

As Kidsave celebrates Black History Month, we are also reminded that equity still requires our advocacy. All Americans deserve equal access to opportunity, and the disproportionate number of Black youth in foster care are no exception.   Our EMBRACE Project study of Americans’ perceptions of the foster care system, in collaboration with Gallup, revealed that only 35% of American adults agree that the foster care system supports children in need of care equally, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.  By educating Americans of the child welfare system and providing cultural competency training for adults interested in fostering, mentoring and adopting, we can begin to address the systemic inequalities of the child welfare system that create extreme barriers for Black foster youth and the families interested in providing foster care. Visit embrace.kidsave.org to learn more about what Kidsave is doing to cultivate more meaningful, long-lasting connections for foster youth and families, and how you can get involved!  #BlackHistoryMonth #Kidsave #EMBRACE #FosterCare #Adoption 

California’s foster youth would greatly benefit from, and deserve, the best preparation and support for their lives after exiting care. In its recently-released "Destination Graduation" report, The Foster Youth Pre-College Collective details how you can help provide that to them. Please join us in lifting up California's foster youth - find out how here: https://bit.ly/3VcImL4

Everyone should read this article on the transition age of former foster youth by the wonderful Julie Cederbaum USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work The Conversation US