Fostering Advocates Arizona

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Aging Out of Care: The Beauty

June 12, 2019 by FAAZWebAdmin Leave a Comment

Lori, Mentor and Sora, Young Adult Leadership Board Member

I entered foster care at the age of 15. Like most youth who enter care as a teenager, I bounced around to many placements. As a trans-youth, it was especially hard for me to build connections and find a placement where I would be accepted. DCS struggled to continue to find me new placements. It got so bad that I had to spend my 17th birthday sleeping in an office building because they couldn’t find a placement for me. Fortunately, around this time I entered the THRIVE program and was paired with my mentor, Lori, who provided me with much-needed support to help me as I transitioned out of care.

THRIVE is a mentorship program offered through Arizona’s Children Association. It is designed to provide support to youth ages 16 to 21 who have or will be transitioning out of foster care. THRIVE works with young adults to match them with a mentor based off on their interests.

Lori was not my first mentor in this program. Before her, I was paired with a man who ended up being removed from the THRIVE program because he was not helping the youth who he mentored. When I was told they had a new mentor for me, I was very apprehensive. Like many teens in care, I had trouble trusting that someone was there for me. THRIVE thankfully has a trial period to make it easy for youth to decide that a mentor is or is not a good fit, so I took a leap of faith and met Lori, who has since changed my life.

Lori and I were not the perfect pair when we first met. I thought Lori was loud and obnoxious, and she didn’t understand what it meant to be trans. We disagreed on a lot of things, but we both stuck it out and got through the adjustment period, and she since has become a significant support in my life.

I disrupted from a placement at 17, just a couple months before my 18th birthday. Lori took legal custody over me to make sure I could get back on my feet and has continued to be there for me ever since then. She helps me when I need guidance on things like housing or education, and even if we disagree, I know I always have someone I can reach out to and that Lori will set any disputes aside to be there for me. We celebrate holidays together, Lori and her partner take me out for my birthdays, something I never celebrated while in care, and they treat me like family. Young adults in care may have a lot of support from DCS workers, and other program staff, but we all want that personal relationship that a mentor provides. I am will always be grateful for having Lori in my life to provide just that.

This blog was written by Sora, Young Adult Leadership Board Member for FAAZ. You can read more about Sora here.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Aging Out Tagged With: aging out, Foster Care Mentors, Foster Care Young Adults, Fostering Advocates Arizona, grateful, I Speak Change, Mentors, THRIVE, Thrive Mentor Program, trans, transgender, Young Adult Leadership Board, young adults, youth in foster care

Natalie’s Opportunity Passport™ Match!

August 21, 2017 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

Opportunities come and go, but for Natalie Murillo, her recent opportunity has been taking her places. Natalie purchased a 2012 Honda Accord with the support of the Opportunity Passport™ program. Natalie says she is thankful for the help she got because it would have taken her two to three times longer to save the money she needed to buy her car.

Not only did Natalie save money, she now saves time. “Growing up in the system, you are always on someone else’s time; going to work and appointments.” She shared freedom is a luxury that comes with owning a car. “Now, I am able to choose when and where I want to go,” said Natalie.

With her own savings in hand, Natalie was able to double her money through the program’s match savings funds. Ready to make her purchase, she met with Opportunity Passport Coordinator, Gerardo Novoa. She says Gerardo stayed with her through the entire process, from keeping in touch online until she drove off the dealership car lot. She is very thankful for the funds and support she received through the program and recommends anyone looking to purchase a car using Opportunity Passport stay connected to the staff.

“Keep in touch, one simple email,” she said. Although moving around from time to time can be part of life, Natalie highlighted, the support team from the Opportunity Passport™ program is there for you, not matter what the circumstance.

Filed Under: Opportunity Passport, Uncategorized Tagged With: aging out, Asset Program Match for Foster Young Adults, Fostering Advocates Arizona, Opportunity Passport Arizona, Opportunity Passport™, transition out of foster care, young adults, young adults aging out, youth in foster care

I Speak Change. Youth Speak FAAZ.

April 28, 2016 by FAAZWebII Leave a Comment

ISpeakChangeAdvocacy

The key to making our Initiative great is the talented individuals on the Young Adult Leadership Board. Hear from them on the reasons they joined FAAZ! 

“I love being part of the Young Adult Leadership Board because I enjoy collaborating with my fellow Board Members on new ideas to improve the foster care system.” – Maria

“FAAZ has taught me how to use my voice to advocate for youth who have experienced foster care through workshops, trainings, and public events.” – Adrian

WeSpeakAdvocacy

“By building strong relationships with my peers on the board, I have learned that anything is possible for youth in foster care to overcome, despite the many obstacles we face and will continue to face.”- Stefani

“I love being part of FAAZ because I have learned how to share my story strongly and effectively.”-Amber

Speaking-Change-Action

“I joined FAAZ to pay it forward and help children and youth in foster care, just as individuals helped me get to the postivie place I am at in my life.”- Ben

“Being part of FAAZ has allowed me the opportunity to meet a group of amazing individuals that have become very dear friends of mine. I have also learned so much about policy and the importance of speaking your voice to advocate for change at the state legislature.” -Desaray

“What I love is that we all have different backgrounds and experiences yet we advocate for one reason-to improve outcomes for youth in foster care…..and everyone on the board has huge hearts <3”- Patience

“I like being on the board because I can use my experience to help other young parents who are in school, like myself, because I know firsthand the struggle they face.”- Brittany

“By being part of FAAZ I have gained many skills such as advocacy, public speaking, and leadership. As a board we build each other up and  become one voice to advocate for kids who are or were in our shoes.”- Ashley

I joined the FAAZ Young Adult Leadership Board because I want to be able to improve the child welfare system in Arizona for all of my foster care brothers and sisters across the state that are currently experiencing what I went through.” – Frank

Filed Under: Advocacy, Aging Out, News, Uncategorized Tagged With: Advocacy, Foster Care, Foster Care Aluumni, Fostering Advocates Arizona, I Speak Change, Young Adult Leadership Board, young adults

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