FAAZWebII - Fostering Advocates Arizona

Eric’s Opportunity Passport Match!

March 2, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

As an Arizona State University senior and Nina Mason Pulliam scholar studying engineering management, Eric has a full schedule. With the match savings component of the Opportunity Passport™ program, Eric used his savings for something that would help ease his busy schedule…a car!

With my savings I purchased a Nissan Altima. Having a car helps me be more consistent and reliable for school as well as working a part time job. It allows me to attend various school activities and expands my employment and housing options, as I can look beyond a 2-mile radius. Currently, I am looking for a summer internship and by having a car I don’t feel as confined to a certain area. I finally have more mobility and freedom. Plus, now I can take road trips!”

Eric said he was fortunate to have prior knowledge on savings and budgeting from the group home he lived in. However, the Opportunity Passport™ program expanded on that knowledge. “It helped me figure out the cost of car insurance, the amount I need to save and budget to afford living on my own, as well as how to build financial stability by investing in stocks and bonds.”

Eric’s next goal is to use his savings match towards graduate school! Hear from other young adults like Eric who have purchased assets such as a car, aiding in their goal to independence.

$20 Challenge

January 17, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

This month, Young Adult Leadership Board member, Maria, nominated FAAZ Advisory Board member, Lori Ollom-Tighe, to take part in the FAAZ Day in the Life Challenge. Each challenge is related to something FAAZ Young Adult Leadership Board members have personally experienced while in foster care and can provide input on what needs improvement. For one week, Lori was allotted $20 to spend on “extra” items such as toiletries, coffee, gas, food and groceries.

Here is what Lori experienced:

“The day before I began my challenge I did some serious “adulting”: I filled my gas tank, paid my bills, bought groceries and postponed a lunch meeting with a friend. I packed snacks, skipped lunches and I declined invitations out. It was possible I would need the $20 for gas money by the end of the week so I was trying to not spend.

In the middle of the week my daughter needed to go to the doctor. Although we have health insurance, the appointment and prescription amounted to $90. I only had $55 in my health savings account, so I had to use my $20 plus $15 more. This was the most striking moment of the challenge; I thought of how remarkably difficult it would have been for a young parent in the foster care system with limited resources.

I was moved with gratitude and reminded of what it was like to be a young person; the kind of expenses I had and my priorities at the time. I was blessed to be raised in a two parent household that supported my desire to manage a part-time job at 16. Because my essential needs were covered, I was able to spend money earned on accessories, clothes, food and entertainment. My paychecks supported my social life.”

When asked what she will do with what she has learned, Lori said she plans to begin asking family, friends and colleagues to take the challenge and become a voice for youth in foster care.

“I would love to see people unfamiliar with how foster care works participate in this challenge and share their experience; I think it could raise community awareness in a powerful way.”

Take our Day in the Life Challenge and you too can advocate for more normalcy in foster care.

Housing Stability

December 14, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

“Cynnetta (Opportunity Passport™ coordinator) taught me a lot! I learned how to save for the future to create financial stability, balance my budget, and establish my priorities.”

As an Opportunity Passport™ participant, Mario used his savings for a down payment and holding fee on his very own apartment!

Mario is one of many young adults who experience foster care and housing instability.

I was homeless for about a year until I got a job which allowed me to get an apartment. By having my savings matched with the Opportunity Passport™ program, I moved from a studio bedroom into a place with more space.”

“It’s great living independently!” Mario loves the freedom of living on his own, working around his own schedule and feeling a sense of consistency.

“Through Opportunity Passport™, I learned about resources and supports to help people like me who have experienced foster care move forward. Everything from transportation to healthcare, I really appreciate that!”

Mario’s next steps are to attend Phoenix College and pursue a Bachelor of Arts in music so he can write and produce! You can “Support a Path” for young adults like Mario in providing housing stability as well as education support by clicking here.

Your sponsorship is the gift that keeps on giving.

#Adulting

November 22, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

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I love having our own home where my fiancé Chris and our 11-month old daughter have space to grow and develop as a family.”
—Opportunity Passport™ participant and FAAZ Board Member, Amber.

With the programs dollar-for-dollar matching savings component, Amber and her family used their savings for first month’s rent and deposit on an apartment. When Amber got the keys to their home she explained the experience as “#adulting!”

“We are fortunate to have a home where we feel safe, secure and comfortable. We are learning the responsibilities of living on our own and from this experience we are becoming a closer family.” amber_op_blog

When Amber met with Opportunity Passport™ coordinator, Cynnetta, she said, “Cynnetta is so fun! She taught me how to conserve energy and that our housing expenses to income ratio should be no more than 28%. I also learned how to budget in costs for utilities, toiletries, car insurance, health insurance, extra expenses, etc.”

For information on how you can “Sponsor a Youth” like Amber, click here.

Mission Accomplished? Read to Find Out…

November 3, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

FAAZ Advisory Board member Sam Garman was chosen as the first nominee for our new Day in the Life blog series. Sam’s challenge; limit his daily shower to only 10 minutes (a common rule experienced by youth in group care)!

Ten minutes is shorter than expected. Two of the days I got distracted and blew right by my timer, but mostly I kept my shower under ten minutes. Nothing about rushing through a shower under a time limit is relaxing.”

10minshower To advocate for more “normalcy” while in foster care, each month the Young Adult Leadership Board will nominate one member of our Advisory Board to take part in a chosen “normalcy” challenge. Each challenge has been experienced by members of the FAAZ Young Adult Leadership Board and something they feel needs improvement.

“I tend to do my best thinking in the shower and often process some problem from work or something happening in my family, so this was a really tough challenge for me. The more time I spend with young adults in care and hear their stories, I realize how little autonomy they are often given. The days that my alarm went off before I was out of the shower, I was so frustrated with having to quickly finish. The experience of having something so fundamental regulated was eye opening.”

When asked how Sam will take what he learned from this experience and advocate for youth he responded, “One way to support normalcy in foster care is for foster homes to provide young people with more autonomy in their choices and decision making. I will also continue to advocate and encourage people to become foster parents and take the training on Reasonable and Prudent Parent decision making.”

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