Florida Youth SHINE and its members are often interviewed and asked to share their stories to educate the community about Florida's child welfare system. Below you'll find our latest moments in the news...
Educational Opportunities for Students in Foster Care
Member featured: Derrick Riggins
Child advocates across the country hosted a town hall meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 to discuss the need for increased educational outcomes for students in foster care. As an intern with CCAI, Derrick was asked to speak during the town hall forum. In addition, former DCF Secretary, George Sheldon was a part of the panel as a part of his new role within the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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Child advocates across the country hosted a town hall meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 to discuss the need for increased educational outcomes for students in foster care. As an intern with CCAI, Derrick was asked to speak during the town hall forum. In addition, former DCF Secretary, George Sheldon was a part of the panel as a part of his new role within the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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FYS partner ensures teens are Ready for Life
Members featured: April White, Andrea Cowart, and Kyle Hickman
Their stories may be slightly different, but their struggles are the same. April White and Andrea Cowart, both 21, and Kyle Hickman, 19, grew up in foster care, moving from family to family and group home to shelter, or sometimes, a friend's couch. By the time they were teenagers, each had lived in dozens of places and attended dozens of schools, often a different one every year.
The odds were stacked against them, especially when they turned 18 and "aged out'' of the Florida foster care system, leaving them to manage on their own with few resources and little or no guidance. Like many of their peers, they were one step away from living on the street...
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Their stories may be slightly different, but their struggles are the same. April White and Andrea Cowart, both 21, and Kyle Hickman, 19, grew up in foster care, moving from family to family and group home to shelter, or sometimes, a friend's couch. By the time they were teenagers, each had lived in dozens of places and attended dozens of schools, often a different one every year.
The odds were stacked against them, especially when they turned 18 and "aged out'' of the Florida foster care system, leaving them to manage on their own with few resources and little or no guidance. Like many of their peers, they were one step away from living on the street...
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Linsey Brewster-Jenkins is an "Angels in Adoption"
Member featured: Linsey Brewster-Jenkins
FYS Broward founding member, Linsey, was honored in October 2011 as a national Angel in Adoption in a ceremony held in Washington, DC by the Congressional Coalition in Adoption Institute. Linsey is not only a graduate of Florida's child welfare system, but she is also the adoptive mother to 4 of her nieces and nephews (in addition to having two children of her own). Linsey is also working on her master's degree in social work at Florida Atlantic University. We are so proud of you Linsey!
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FYS Broward founding member, Linsey, was honored in October 2011 as a national Angel in Adoption in a ceremony held in Washington, DC by the Congressional Coalition in Adoption Institute. Linsey is not only a graduate of Florida's child welfare system, but she is also the adoptive mother to 4 of her nieces and nephews (in addition to having two children of her own). Linsey is also working on her master's degree in social work at Florida Atlantic University. We are so proud of you Linsey!
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FYS member speaks at Florida Bar Association dinner
Member featured: Ashtavia Maddox
FYS Orlando leader, Ashtavia, was asked to speak on behalf of Florida Youth SHINE and all those in foster care at the Florida Bar Associations Children's Legal Services grantee dinner on September 15, 2011. She shared her story and spoke about the importance of legal representation for all youth in care - "my attorney worked around the clock for me."
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FYS Orlando leader, Ashtavia, was asked to speak on behalf of Florida Youth SHINE and all those in foster care at the Florida Bar Associations Children's Legal Services grantee dinner on September 15, 2011. She shared her story and spoke about the importance of legal representation for all youth in care - "my attorney worked around the clock for me."
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Pinellas/Pasco member to become Cert. Nurse Asst.
Member featured: Trinity Albertini
Thanks to a new program with the American Red Cross, former foster youth are now in their Certified Nurses Assistant program. This 5-6 week program opens the door to a future in the field of medicine. Trinity, a FYS Pinellas/Pasco member and Ready for Life participant, is one of the programs first success stories.
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Thanks to a new program with the American Red Cross, former foster youth are now in their Certified Nurses Assistant program. This 5-6 week program opens the door to a future in the field of medicine. Trinity, a FYS Pinellas/Pasco member and Ready for Life participant, is one of the programs first success stories.
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Members speak out about education & employment
Members featured: Tamarra Lestage and D'atra Franklin
Turning 18 and aging out of foster care isn't easy, but neither is finding a job. Put the two together and Florida's former foster youth are working hard to overcome the odds. FYS members from South Florida (Tamarra, FYS Broward and D'atra, FYS Palm Beach) recently spoke with the Sun Sentinel to share there experiences aging out, staying educated, and finding steady employment.
Fully Story
Turning 18 and aging out of foster care isn't easy, but neither is finding a job. Put the two together and Florida's former foster youth are working hard to overcome the odds. FYS members from South Florida (Tamarra, FYS Broward and D'atra, FYS Palm Beach) recently spoke with the Sun Sentinel to share there experiences aging out, staying educated, and finding steady employment.
Fully Story
FYS member Strives to Drive
Member featured: Manny Oliver
Best Foot Forward and OffLeaseOnly in Palm Beach County created the Strive to Drive program that will award one car a month to a foster youth within the county. To kick the program off they awarded the first car to Manny Oliver, FYS Palm Beach chapter leader. We cannot thank BFF and OffLeaseOnly enough for such an incredible gift. Drive safely Manny!!
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Best Foot Forward and OffLeaseOnly in Palm Beach County created the Strive to Drive program that will award one car a month to a foster youth within the county. To kick the program off they awarded the first car to Manny Oliver, FYS Palm Beach chapter leader. We cannot thank BFF and OffLeaseOnly enough for such an incredible gift. Drive safely Manny!!
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FYS members on WPTV NBC Channel 5
Members featured: D'atra Franklin, Ty Lawrence, and Manny Oliver
Air Date: July 15 and 16, 2011
Air Date: July 15 and 16, 2011
Derrick Riggins featured in METRO Section
Member featured: Derrick Riggins
During the summer of 2011 former FYS chair, Derrick, moved to Washington, DC to serve as a summer intern with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. His duties would involve working in both the CCAI offices and interning for Senator Max Baucus (Montana). What he got was so much more.
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Washington Post Photo Gallery of Derrick
During the summer of 2011 former FYS chair, Derrick, moved to Washington, DC to serve as a summer intern with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. His duties would involve working in both the CCAI offices and interning for Senator Max Baucus (Montana). What he got was so much more.
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Washington Post Photo Gallery of Derrick
FYS Chair speaks with Malcolm Out Loud
Member featured: Derrick Riggins
FYS at Children's Week 2011
Members featured: Georgina Rodriguez, Manny Oliver, Derrick Riggins, Kendra Walker,
Brian Smith, and Jesse Wilson
Brian Smith, and Jesse Wilson
FYS member interviewed by Positively Tampa Bay
Member featured: Andrea Coward and community partner Ready for Life
Air date: April 26, 2011
Air date: April 26, 2011
FYS meets incoming DCF Secretary David Wilkins
Members featured: Derrick Riggins, Andrea Cowart, and David Gagne
Air Date: February 8-13, 2011
Air Date: February 8-13, 2011
FYS meets with Comcast Newsmakers
Member featured: Derrick Riggins with Florida's Children First Exec. Dir. Christina Spudeas
Air Date: April 2010
Air Date: April 2010
FYS member recognized in FIU school newspaper
Member featured: Julia Villamizar-Weber
http://news.fiu.edu/2010/02/fiu-student-honored-for-foster-youth-leadership-and-advocacy/
http://news.fiu.edu/2010/02/fiu-student-honored-for-foster-youth-leadership-and-advocacy/
FYS member speaks with the Forum on Non-Profits
Member featured: Mez Pierre
Listen Now
From the Forum on Non-Profits website at: http://www.forumfornonprofits.com/archives.html
Listen Now
From the Forum on Non-Profits website at: http://www.forumfornonprofits.com/archives.html
FYS at Children's Week 2009
Member featured: Mike Dunlavy
FAMU Magazine Tells Derrick's Story
Member featured: Derrick Riggins
