Youth Voice
Blessings in Disguise
We launched a writing contest to see what former foster youth had to say about their time in care or their experiences with the justice system. The contest gave youth the opportunity to write on […]
Youth Voice
Youth Voice
There’s No Place Like …
We launched a writing contest to see what former foster youth had to say about their time in care or their experiences with the justice system. The contest gave youth the opportunity to write on […]
Youth Voice
Maamaa Aki
We launched a writing contest to see what former foster youth had to say about their time in care or their experiences with the justice system. The contest gave youth the opportunity to write on […]
Youth Voice
Finding Home
We launched a writing contest to see what former foster youth had to say about their time in care or their experiences with the justice system. The contest gave youth the opportunity to write on […]
Featured
For Youth in Lock-Up, Family Connection is Key
I was locked up for a year, just after I turned 17. I was at three juvenile halls for about six months and then at a juvenile camp for about five months. I was sentenced […]
Youth Voice
Life After Foster Care: ‘Aging Out’ Doesn’t Mean That It’s Over
As foster youth, we learn quickly to accept our circumstances, the realities of our family life, and move on. But what if there was something we had yet to discover about our stories? What if that missing piece was found? Or […]
Foster Care
Former Foster Youth, Advocate Shares Why Normalcy is Necessary
In my 15 years of advocacy experience, nothing has had such urgency as normalcy for children and youth in foster care. The term itself might not be used by participants for a foster youth survey, […]
Foster Care
Documentary on Connection Between Foster Care, Homelessness and Human Trafficking
A new foster care documentary, Breaking the Cycle, explores exactly how intertwined the foster care system is with homelessness and human trafficking. Filmmaker Arzo Yusuf captured multiple perspectives from people with close connections to the […]
Child Welfare
Why Oregon Should Expand the Reach of Independent Living Programs for Foster Youth
When I was 17, my bike was stolen. It was a pretty difficult situation for me. The year before, I had entered foster care with my 7-year-old sister. I depended on my bike to get […]
Child Welfare
A Changing View of Love: Destiny’s Foster Care Journey
After an unnecessary custody battle, going into the foster care system only a few months later was a breaking point in my life. Back then, love was waking up to the sound of laughter and […]