The Ali Forney Center’s Post

Reunification month gets lost in the other celebratory months because it’s viewed as the expectation. It’s not considered an act of “going above and beyond.” Reunification month is the most important month. Parents facing themselves, having uncomfortable conversations and experiences, accepting responsibility for their actions, and overcoming adversity. Their children working through circumstances outside of their control, building stronger bonds with their families to understand grace, love and compassion. This doesn’t get recognition because what’s the picture to be posted on social media? What do you say about these folks who did this work? Our system doesn’t recognize them as “heroes” because it’s what we are supposed to do. WV subsides adoptions from foster care a great deal. Minimum $700 per month until the child turns 18 plus a Medicaid card. When a child is reunified, they don’t get any support. The case is closed. They get Medicaid if the qualify for Medicaid. Milestones should be celebrated not shamed. I’m glad to see more recognition for reunification.

It often happens that I get so caught up in my daily life (and head) but I am so thankful for having joined Latinos for Education as a 2024 Latino Board Fellow. Connecting with people who have a shared vision of Latino representation, education, and advancement is invigorating and powerful! - 40% of Fortune 1000 companies are inclusive of Latinos on their corporate boards, reflecting a 5 percentage point increase from 2022 – the second most notable increase since 2019.  - With most of the progress occurring outside of the Fortune 100, minimal progress continues in the Fortune 100, shifting from 53% to 54% in Latino representation. - While slow, Latino board representation continues to rise. The numbers have increased to 5.4% of Fortune 500 seats held by a Latino and 4.9% among Fortune 1000, a 1% and .8% respectively, one of the most notable increases for both segments since 2020. Please take a look at Latinos for Education and their amazing programs that support communities across the United States

We have witnessed firsthand how we have brought hope to families and communities through their children, where previously there was none. At the African Institute for Children Studies organization, we firmly believe in the transformative power of education for the most vulnerable populations. Together, we can continue to provide solutions that uplift and empower. https://lnkd.in/dX8aSxbU

When children and youth engage in discipleship ministry, volunteer leadership grows, families strengthen, and communities thrive together. ✝️ 💪 💓 What if we prioritize reaching children and youth first to impact families for God's Kingdom? You can be the key. You can be a catalyst for a world where there is a church for EVERY child. 🙏 Click the link to learn more. https://bit.ly/3toCgb6

When children and youth engage in discipleship ministry, volunteer leadership grows, families strengthen, and communities thrive together. ✝️ 💪 💓 What if we prioritize reaching children and youth first to impact families for God's Kingdom? You can be the key. You can be a catalyst for a world where there is a church for EVERY child. 🙏 Click the link to learn more. https://bit.ly/3toCgb6

The world and America in particular needs this: volunteerism, civic duty and service are something sadly that seems to be at a loss in my country. The opportunity I had to serve in the Peace Corps helped me realize the necessity of community engagement and cohesion and the immense need for these opportunities for citizens around the world to build strong and resilient democracies at the local and national levels. I am also reminded of Robert Putnam’s “Bowling Alone” and an update he wrote in 2010, reflecting on the imperative of “social capital” which research has shown makes “citizens happier, healthier, reduces crime and makes governments more responsive, and honest and improves economic prosperity…” https://lnkd.in/ejFsvTs9 - all of this to say: building this social capital is imperative fo “any democracy, any society can’t be healthy without this resource…” (paraphrased!) - Americorps and Peace corps forging a stronger partnership can only be beneficial to growing social capital and I encourage all of us to look closer at our own civic engagement and service to our communities- this is where change and development starts.

Did you know that children who have spent time in foster care are 3.5x more likely to experience PTSD like that of a war veteran? Placement stability is an integeral part of helping mitigate the affects of trauma children in the foster care system experience. Once healthy stability is achieved, children can begin the process of learning how to form healthy trust-based attachements. This is vital to their healing journey. Keeping sibling groups together, whenever possible, is a monumental part of lessening the overal impact that the trauma of removal can cause for a child. Think about it, even if a child is in a desperate situation and removal is a necessary, they are still being ripped away from all that is familiar to them. For children, routine and control are two extremely important components for healthy development. When children are able to enter into the unknown space of the Child Welfare System and navigate it with their sibling, the trauma that comes with removal can have less severe lasting affects. They have eachother and intimate connection and that gives them a sense of control and safety. I am so excited to see that Christian Bale has discovered this reality and has a passion to help make it possible for siblings to remain together during foster care placement.

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As we observe Memorial Day, let's remember the bravery and sacrifice of those who served. 🇺🇸 It's a day of reflection and gratitude, reminding us of the values that drive us to serve our community with integrity and dedication. This Memorial Day, we are harnessing the power of personalized engagement and emotional connections; check out our latest blog post, https://lnkd.in/gSNDt4Up #MemorialDay #HonorAndServe #DigitalMarketingEthics #CommunityFirst #ReflectionAndGratitude