If my younger self could see me right now, she would be so proud. Sometimes, I can’t believe I am still alive. On June 12, 2016, my mom’s ex-husband, a semi-truck driver, forced me to go on a work trip around
There comes a time when foster kids hit a breaking point. My breaking point happened when I was 13. I had been in over 30 homes in my first year in care. No one seemed to listen to me or
As a transgender youth, I’ve had my fair share of problems, but I’d like to address the fact that not all foster parents are properly trained to foster LGBTQ+ youth. I live in an open-minded home, but it was still
It is so easy for youth to lose their voice while in care. It’s sad for them to feel small during such a significant time in their life. Yet, their voice is bigger than anything going on in their case.
Listening builds trust. Really listening requires more than hearing what’s being said, we must seek to understand. Listening to, understanding, and respecting the opinions of youth who have aged out of foster care are at the heart of National Foster
Valuing Their Voices We must stop hurting the people we are trying to help. This is what I said when I was recently honored with the Champion for Children Award at the Florida Coalition for Children’s Conference. While I am so
The people closest to the problem may also be closest to the solution, but furthest away from the power. We can all agree that youth in foster care should have a voice in decisions that impact their lives, and in
Child welfare systems do not collect post-secondary completion data for former foster youth. Despite the Chafee Program’s intent to prepare transitioning youth for self-sufficiency, states’ passage of extended foster care, and college tuition waivers, we are not collecting data that
Former foster youth from across Florida stepped into Selfless Love Foundation’s Dream Tank for the chance of a lifetime. The annual competition, which invites contestants to share their aspirations with a panel of judges, took place on Friday, May 13 at The
The most manipulative people on earth are babies. They cry when they are hungry. They cry when they are wet. They cry when they want to be held. Babies manipulate us to get their needs met. Babies cry to survive. Youth
