1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Here we are back again with another wonderful episode of 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: Love Someone, our podcast that I do uh in the 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: hopes that I will inspire you to use your energy 4 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: to change the world. That's the goal anyway, to share 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: information and to invite guests that are doing just that, 6 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: changing the world, making the world a better place. My 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: guest today is just such a person, Jennifer Perry. Jennifer 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: is the executive director of the Children's Action Network. Children's 9 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 1: Action Network CAN. Since its inception, by marshaling the immense 10 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: communication power of the entertainment community they're based in l A, 11 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: CAN inspires the public to take action on behalf of 12 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: kids CAN. Children's Action Network is now involved in a 13 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: national campaign devoted to raising awareness of the one hundred 14 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: and seven thousand children in this country who are legally 15 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: free waiting for adoptive homes, and they help to improve 16 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: the outcomes for almost a half a million kids in 17 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,919 Speaker 1: foster care. Jennifer is also the co founder of Foster More, 18 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: a coalition of media and entertainment companies, nonprofits, businesses, philanthropic 19 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: organizations working together to create greater understanding, greater empathy and 20 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: action to improve the future of kids in foster care. 21 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: Foster More shines a light on the accomplishments and potential 22 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: of foster youth while helping to secure support for their 23 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: academic success and helping to create a pipeline of potential 24 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: foster parents. We have a big shortage of foster parents 25 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: in this country. Under her stewardship, Can has received an 26 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: Adoption Excellent Award from the U S Department of Health 27 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: and Human Services and a Television Academy Honors for a 28 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: Home for the Holidays. Can's annual special promoting foster care adoption. 29 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: Not only does she talk the talks, she walks the walk. 30 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: Jennifer and her husband Andy are the adoring adoptive parents 31 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: of two daughters. We're gonna pause right now. 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Hello Jennifer, Welcome to Love Someone. 56 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: I am so grateful, Thank you for being with us 57 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: on this podcast. You know that foster care and adoptive 58 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: programs and adoptive kids and building families is more than 59 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: the near and dear to my heart, right, yeah, I do. 60 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: I do. It's remarkable what you've done in the incredible 61 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: family that you've built. So yes, I I do know that. Well, 62 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: you know what I find remarkable. I have a lot 63 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 1: of resources. I'm very blessed. I have a lot of 64 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: resources my career. My situation allows me to have resources 65 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: that most people don't. I have a nanny housekeeper that 66 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: helps me with the young ones and helps me with 67 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: the laundry, and I can pay tutors to help my 68 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: older kids. What amazes me is people like my friend 69 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: Jan she has two adult daughters that are building their 70 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: families through foster kids and adoption and foster to adopt 71 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: and long term foster placements. And they don't have the 72 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: resources I have. They're doing it all on their own, 73 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: and they're doing an amazing job. I'm like, oh my gosh, 74 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: you wear me out just thinking about all the hats 75 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: that you have to wear. I'm so proud of men 76 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: and women who don't have the resources that I have 77 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: and still are willing to step up to the plate 78 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: and raise their hand and say I'll do it. I'll 79 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: love a child in need that takes a special kind 80 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: of hero it has and I couldn't agree more. You know, 81 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: I really feel that foster parents are the unsung heroes 82 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: of America because here are people that step up and say, 83 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: you know, I want to give a child what I 84 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: can give them, love, support, stability. I want to help 85 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: them realize their potential. And they are taking a child, 86 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, the they've barely ever met, into their own home, 87 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: making a pledge to that child, sometimes a short term, 88 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: sometimes a lifetime pledge. It is a remarkable thing to 89 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: step up and do. And I truly feel that we 90 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: should create some kind of a mechanism to seeing the 91 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: phrases that these foster parents get them the support they 92 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: need and recognize the extraordinary work to your point that 93 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: everyday people are doing every day on behalf of you 94 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: within foster care. So walk us through how does a 95 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: child end up in our foster care system? How? How 96 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: I mean we got almost five hundred thousand kids in 97 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: foster care? How did they get there? A child goes 98 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: into foster care when an adult in their life. It 99 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: can be a teacher, a doctor, or a neighbor, a 100 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: friend is concerned that they are in danger um that 101 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: that their their lives may be at risk given their 102 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: home situation, and frequently that danger arises from substance abuse 103 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: on the part of the parents. We've sadly seen an 104 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: uptick in use in foster care because of the opioid crisis. 105 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: And when someone is concerned, they alert the authorities and 106 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: they come to investigate, and if the authorities deemed that 107 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: the child is in danger or at risk, they are 108 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: removed from the homes and placed with a foster parent 109 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: or in an emergency foster platement until the situation can 110 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: be assessed. And it's always important to remember that a 111 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: child is placed in foster care through no faults of 112 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: their own. Uh, they've been in a dangerous situation and removed, 113 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: and you know, the hope is always to reunite that 114 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: child with their parents. That doesn't always happen, but that 115 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: is always That is the first step in foster care 116 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: is to say, are these parents, if they're given more 117 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: support and wrap around services, will they be able to 118 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: get their lives together so that they can support and 119 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: take care of their kids. So you've been at this 120 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: a while how has foster care or kids in foster care, 121 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: how has it changed. I got my first foster license 122 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: in eight six and everything has changed since then. What 123 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: do you see some of the biggest changes are I 124 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: think one of the biggest wholesale changes has been a 125 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: tremendous uptick and awareness about youth in the foster care system. 126 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: They truly truly lived in the shadows UM at the 127 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 1: time when you first went on your journey UM, people 128 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: just did not know about using foster care. They had misperceptions, 129 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: misconceptions about the youth. And what's happened, thanks to the 130 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: work of many, many good groups over the last twenty 131 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: or so years, is there's a tremendous optick and awareness 132 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: about youth in foster care and hence to the services 133 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: and supports that are needed. And some of the changes 134 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: are small but so important. For a long time, when 135 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: children replaced in foster care, there wasn't a concerned to 136 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: keep siblings together. Then there was a recognition that children 137 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: will rive more if they are, you know, have a 138 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,239 Speaker 1: sibling that goes into foster care with them some semblance 139 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: of their former family. And that's a small change. At 140 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: the larger level, two there's been a much greater recognition 141 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: of what happens to the youth who leave foster care 142 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: when they age out at eighteen or twenty one, depending 143 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: on the states they're in. There was not a lot 144 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: of awareness about the outcome for those youths, which were 145 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: not good, somewhat dire in fact, and a lot more 146 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 1: services have been created to support that particular part of 147 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: the foster youth population. So how many states now continue 148 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: to support kids till they're twenty one? That is a 149 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: good question. I honestly don't need answer how many states? 150 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: It's a growing number, and uh, I don't know. I'm 151 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: happy to get back to you. Um, I don't know. 152 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: If aout my head. Well, last time I checked, it 153 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: was like twelve, and in most states that's what the 154 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: foster care system does still to this day. Okay, you're eighteen, 155 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: you're out of our jurisdiction. By you're on your own. 156 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: That is correct. And if you think about a child 157 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: who grew up in a supportive family, no one says 158 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: them an agent can see later, you know, go forth 159 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: and prosper um. So you can imagine a youth who 160 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: has had a traumatic childhood hasn't been mentored, hasn't learned 161 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: all of the basic sort of life skills that you 162 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: do sometimes just by watching a parent or supportive adults. Uh. 163 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: So the move to continue to support youth in foster 164 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: care to age twenty one and even even past that. 165 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: There are some areas that are looking at up to 166 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: the age of six. We know so much more about 167 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: the way you brains developed and their coping skills, and 168 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: how someblars aren't fully developed into late six. And also 169 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: because fosters use typically end up a couple of years 170 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: behind at an academic level, it takes them longer to 171 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: get through the education process, so we need to continue 172 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: to support them this they pursue higher education as they 173 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: get older. So uh, there's twelve million reasons it's it's 174 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: vitally important to support this youth population. So, Jennifer, what 175 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: is Foster More? Tell me about your organization? How did 176 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: you birth this? What what inspired you? What? What was 177 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: that aha moment where you said, you know what, I 178 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: can use my gifts and talents and skills and I 179 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: can change the world for these kids. Tell me about 180 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: Foster More and and how that was born. I've been 181 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: working in the foster care Arena quite some time an 182 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: organization cult Children's actually network that has a number of 183 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: projects that worked to improve outcomes for youth and foster care, 184 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: and we came to the growing realization that a significant 185 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: part of making a difference for these youths was shifting 186 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: attitudes and perceptions, was making people realize that youth and 187 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: foster care are the epitome of resilience. They are a 188 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: resource and a need all the supports we can give 189 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: them to thrive and prosper. And we realized in order 190 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: to do that, in order to change mind and move 191 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: the needles on people's perceptions and awareness, we had to 192 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: launch a broad scale public awareness campaign aimed at moving 193 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: hearts and mind, enabling people to really see who these 194 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: youth are. So that was the sort of the core 195 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: of our Foster More effort, and we launched a broad 196 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: scale public awareness campaign again aimed at saying youth and 197 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: foster care are resilient and will strive if they're given 198 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: the supports they need. One of our first p s 199 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: a S was called I am Amazing and was about 200 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: this that foster you're talking about. I am amazing. I 201 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: need I just need an adult to guide me along 202 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: the way to realize who I am. So over the 203 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 1: past several years, we have continued this broad scale public 204 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: awarness campaign and one of the things that drove it, 205 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: I'm sorry this was a long answer, but we had 206 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: that in the general public attitudes about youth in foster care, 207 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: people either didn't know who they were or they had 208 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: misperceptions that I've referenced. And we did focus groups and 209 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: it was very interesting because it shows that at a 210 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: free focus groups, no one even knew a foster parents 211 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: and their attitudes about foster youth they were scared of them. 212 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: And it really drove this campaign to shift the paradigm 213 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: and get people to think entirely different about foster youth, 214 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: because that's the only way that people thinking differently that 215 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: people are going to step up and assist these youth 216 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: and the resources are going to be directed towards the youth. 217 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: We have also realized that there is a pressing need 218 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: for foster parents, particularly wonderful ones like yourself. And as 219 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: you well know, um, the number of youth and foster 220 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: care greatly exceeds the number of foster parents. So since 221 00:13:54,640 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: Foster More is a coalition of entertainment philanthropic business. We 222 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: knew we could turn our entertainment skills and resources into 223 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: a campaign to recruit foster parents. So that's one of 224 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: the other driving peoples of foster More. It's a conjurity 225 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: campaign to recruit foster parents so that we address the 226 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: pressing needs for those within the system. I think the 227 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: good news is when you start to tell the story 228 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: of these youths and you tell people who they really 229 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: are and what our duty and obligation as human beings 230 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: is to these youths, people want to engage. How many 231 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: kids have you fostered? I have fostered two kids, and 232 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: we entered this process to be truly foster parents. It 233 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: was when l A had a huge uptick and youth 234 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: from foster Carretti this is in the same place now, 235 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: and we really felt that there was a place where 236 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: we could and wanted to step up. And as state 237 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: would have it, we ended up adopting our girls. We 238 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: met them at five and and we initially rest with 239 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: Parence Jennifer, We're gonna come back in just a moment. 240 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: We are going to take a break here for one 241 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: of our sponsors. We're gonna come back and we're going 242 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: to talk about how to become involved, what that looks like, 243 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: and give some people some directions. So we'll be right 244 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: back talking with Jennifer, the co founder of Foster More, 245 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: a coalition of media and entertainment companies who care about kids. 246 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: Coming right out, want in on a secret of keeping 247 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: your kids busy with a fun project from Annie's Young 248 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: Woodworkers Kid Club, the sponsor of this podcast. Now, what 249 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: they send to your home each month is perfect for 250 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: encouraging kids creativity. They're able to build something they'll be 251 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: proud of. Every month, Annie sends you the supplies, the instructions, 252 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: even the tools. 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We're going 262 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: to talk about what does it take. If somebody is 263 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: listening and says, you know what, my kids went off 264 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: to college and I kind of have an empty nest syndrome, 265 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: maybe I could maybe I could foster. Or maybe somebody says, 266 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: I'm a single mom and I've got one son and 267 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: he would like a sibling. Maybe I could do foster 268 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: care or do a foster to adopt. What is a 269 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: foster parent and where do they start? A foster parents 270 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: truly anyone with love in their hearts who wants to 271 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: bring a kid into their life and nurture them and 272 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: provide them stability and provide them a better future. That 273 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: can be that couple that you just mentioned whose children 274 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: have gone off to college they're feeling like they're empty nesters. 275 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: It can be a single woman. Uh. The foster care 276 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 1: system is really open to anyone who has the desire, 277 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 1: the willingness, and the heart to be a foster parent. 278 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: The process itself is you go to whatever the local 279 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: agency is in your locality and you take classes for 280 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: roughly six state weeks and the classes are really to 281 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,640 Speaker 1: help you to help prepare you for this journey which 282 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: is new and different for many people. And then you 283 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: have a home study basically a way for those workers 284 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: to come out to your home and assess that it's 285 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: safe for a child to be there. Okay, So so now, 286 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: at least in the state I'm in, because of COVID, 287 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: they've they've moved the foster classes online. I don't know 288 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: if that's a nationwide thing. I don't know if that's 289 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: changing because the COVID situation is opening back up. But 290 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: I have to say, Jennifer that I thought I was 291 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: going to hate the classes, but I loved I loved 292 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: them because I got to meet other people who were 293 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: like minded, and I formed friendships back in the eighties 294 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: the first time I got my foster license that I 295 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: still have today because of those classes. That's pretty wonderful. 296 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: And know, the classes are a great bonding experience, and 297 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: they're also it's wonderful to look around that room. Have 298 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: you taken the classes myself a million years ago, to 299 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: look around that room and see just how many different 300 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: people are about to embark on this journey with you, 301 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: And it's equally important as you meant and to form 302 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: those friendships, because being a foster parent is rewarding, but 303 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: it can be channel lunching and it's really wonderful to 304 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: have people you can bounce things off of, ask questions of. 305 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: In addition to the social workers and other people who 306 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 1: all come into your life but you know, to help 307 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: support you on this journey because it's an amazing journey, 308 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: but it's new for everybody, and it's really nice to 309 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 1: have a bulwark of you know, advice and support that 310 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: you can turn to. So the process is the classes, 311 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: the home study, and then after that's complete, what can 312 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 1: somebody expect? And one more piece of the process, just 313 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: so people know all the pieces. Um, you are life 314 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:40,199 Speaker 1: scan and then what happens is you are in essence 315 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: waiting for a match or to meet a child. And 316 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: one of the things I want to say, because sometimes 317 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: people think going in that they can't articulate what they're 318 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: comfortable with. Because some people are completely comfortable having four 319 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: kids in their home. Some people want younger kids, some 320 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: people want older kids. Um, it's okay to say that 321 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: to the agency and the social workers that you're working with, 322 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: to say, you know what, here's my comfort level, here 323 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: are my parameters, Here's what I feel I can take 324 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,479 Speaker 1: on it's okay to say that. I got to interrupt 325 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 1: Jennifer and say not only is it okay, it's vitally 326 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: important because if you know that you are not built 327 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: to be changing diapers or heating up a bottle at 328 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: two o'clock in the morning, you need to speak up 329 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 1: and say, I'm excited to do this, but I really 330 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: only want a school aged child, or I really do 331 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: best with toddlers, or right, I really would like to 332 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 1: work with teens. You you have to be able to 333 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: articulate that, otherwise you're gonna set yourself up for failure. Yeah, 334 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 1: exactly right. And you know there are so many teams 335 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: out there who are looking for stability and permanency. So 336 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 1: to your point, it's so great to think about and 337 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: consider teams because you know they're about to embark on 338 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: a really big life journey and having the support of 339 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: a family can make all the difference in their future. Um. 340 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: And then after you've gone through that process and you've 341 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: articulated what your comfort level is, you are you're waiting. 342 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 1: You're waiting for a match, You're waiting for the call 343 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: from your social worker that says, you know, I have 344 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: a young boy, or I have whatever it is that 345 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,120 Speaker 1: you've articulated and they are in need of a foster placement, 346 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: and at that point in time, if it's a match 347 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: that works for you, that child will be placed in 348 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: your home. Uh. Sometimes there's not a lot of notice. 349 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: Sometimes there's more notice, and your journey will begin. I 350 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 1: think it's important to Lilas to also let people know 351 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: that you know, being a foster parent, you just you 352 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: also have to remember that the first goal when a 353 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: child goes into foster care is to reunify them with 354 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: their biological parents. And it happened about a foster parents 355 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: end up adopting the children that are placed with them, 356 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 1: So that gives you a sense reunification is not always possible. 357 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: It is the initial goal because it's so important for 358 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: that child to retain that family bond if it's at 359 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: all possible. So I just think that's the thing that happens. 360 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: That the thing that a lot of people talk about. 361 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: And every situation is different, uh, and children are in 362 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: different situations in terms of their families, so every foster 363 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 1: place and will will be different. And what I encourage people, 364 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: Jennifer is if you want to adopt a child, if 365 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: you know you want to build your family through adoption, 366 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: it's really important to tell your foster worker, I want 367 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: to do foster to adopt, and that way they are 368 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: actively searching for a child who is legally free, who 369 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 1: the courts have decided they're not going to be returned 370 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: to their bio family. They're legally free and you can 371 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 1: pursue adoption. Like in in the state i'm in, you 372 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: do foster care for six months and at the end 373 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: of that six months, you can apply for adoption and 374 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: that can happen in a matter of weeks once the 375 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: six month period is up. A lot of people don't 376 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: know that foster to adopt is an option that if 377 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: you state that upfront and you are working with a 378 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: good caseworker, you will be matched with children who are 379 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: legally free to adopt. That's such an important point back 380 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: to articulating, you know what your comfort level is in 381 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 1: terms of the child and whether you are interested in 382 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: adoption because the status of the children within the process 383 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: is known. So if you do want to foster adopt, 384 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: it's really important to stay that up front. Now, what 385 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: if somebody is listening and they say, Delilah, I want 386 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: to help, I want to care. I just can't commit 387 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 1: to becoming a full time foster parent. What can they do? 388 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: How can they help foster more or help point hope 389 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 1: my my organization that works with foster kids, Jennifer. What 390 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: would you say to the person who's kind of raising 391 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: their hand but they know they cannot be a full 392 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: time foster parent. Well, happily. There is a myriad of 393 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,440 Speaker 1: ways that people can help, and they run the gamut 394 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: from helping to prepare special stuffle bags for children when 395 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: they're placed into cluster care with essential needs. There's a 396 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: number of organizations that's a wonderful work like that. You 397 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: can help with an agency that is providing care packages 398 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: for older use um. Remember that youth go into the 399 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: system with almost nothing. So working with an organization that 400 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 1: addresses offencil needs sometimes with older youth in particular, it's 401 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: it's everything from closing to laundry detergent to you know, 402 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: pencils and patents. Uh. There's a number of organizations that 403 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: do that. If you want to be an advocate for 404 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: these children, there's a wonderful organization called Court Appointed Special 405 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: Advocates and you are trained to be the tells of 406 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: a kid in court, So if you're interested in advocating, 407 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: that's an excellent avenue to pursue. Can I just say 408 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:11,920 Speaker 1: that COSSA workers make all the difference. I believe they 409 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 1: are also the unsung heroes. They make all the difference 410 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: in the world because oftentimes they're the only person advocating 411 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: for the best interests of the child exactly. And all 412 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: the research has shown that a foster child who makes 413 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: it into the world reasonably well, it's because somewhere in 414 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: their life there was a supportive adult and that could 415 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: be a teacher, or a CASA or a mentor, which 416 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: gets me to the other role that people can play 417 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: with youth and foster care is becoming a mentor. And 418 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: there's different organizations and all the organizations across from a 419 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: different in different states. But if you want to be 420 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: a mentor, try and find an organization there, because again, 421 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: the advice and caring and guidance of an adult can 422 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: change the trajectory of a child in foster care of 423 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: life and personally. I know you can't use names for 424 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: privacy reasons, but tell me, Jennifer, one of your favorite 425 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: um maybe from your own experience with your your children, 426 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: maybe somebody that you've worked with her mentor tell me 427 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: one of your favorite foster care stories. Oh gosh, I 428 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: have so many. Um, happily, I have so many. I 429 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:29,920 Speaker 1: think in particular, Uh, there was a young man who 430 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: I met. We have a store that provides brand new 431 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 1: clothing for youth aging out of foster care. All donated, 432 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 1: and I met this young man. He had aged out. 433 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 1: He had actually gone to college and had to come 434 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: back because he couldn't afford it. He was trying to 435 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: get a feedback on the ground. He was interested in 436 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: the culinary arts, and got him a job at a restaurant, 437 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 1: helped him with housing because that was the challenge for him, 438 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: and people came together and bought him a car, and 439 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: he went on to pursue that culinary dream. And it's 440 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: one of my favorites because he kind of exemplified why 441 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: we all need to be a part of these used lives, 442 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 1: because he was well on try to go to college. Um, 443 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 1: let me throw in a stat that another place people 444 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: can help. By the way, uh, w percent of youth 445 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: in foster care aspired to higher education and only three 446 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: percent are able to do that. Seventy percent of youth 447 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: and foster care, desire, aspire to hire education, to go 448 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: to college. And what percent of kids in foster care 449 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: actually get there? Three to five percent. I would say 450 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: a hundred percent of kids in foster care aspire to 451 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: forever families. And what percent ever get adopted? We are 452 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: looking around around now about fifty thou children are adopted 453 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: from foster care every year. And UM, that's that number 454 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 1: has been fairly steady over time. So the good news 455 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 1: is over the last twenty or so years, that's thousands 456 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: and thousands and thousands of youth. UM. The challenges, UM, 457 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 1: as you mentioned earlier, you know we have four hundred 458 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: thousands us in the foster care system now. So people 459 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 1: can help by being costs of workers. They can help 460 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 1: by being foster parents, they can help by mentoring. What else? 461 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 1: What else can we do? What if I what if 462 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: I own a restaurant, What if I own a small business, 463 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: what if I own a big business? How could I 464 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: get involved to help these kids? Uh? One of the 465 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: wonderful ways in any business gonna be involved is providing 466 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: an internships or employment because it's crucial for these youths. 467 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: So how do I how do I get in touch 468 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: with them? How do I If I own a business, 469 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: say I own a restaurant and I want to give 470 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: a teenager job, who do I contact? Well, it's more localized, 471 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: so agencies within where you are, I mean in health 472 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: and you know, there's a tremendous group called I Foster 473 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: and they have a job program that was created to 474 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: combat exactly this issue, and I would hope that it 475 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: could be replicated many many places. I Foster has a 476 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: jobs program and it was created to provide jobs and 477 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: employment and provide the skills that fosters needs for those 478 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: jobs in employment. And they have partnered with more than 479 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: major corporate employers, so they offer interviews to the youth. 480 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: Um they first they trained them at essential so I 481 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: Foster training the youth. Then they connect them with interviews 482 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 1: with these twenty five employers and they get jobs. And 483 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: because of the training and because of such a good 484 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: program the youth, there's there's three times the retention rates 485 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: that's average for the industry. So it's a very promising 486 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: practice and youth employment. And again, I think one that 487 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: should be replicated across the country because it addresses me 488 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: for train and the need for employment. And it's called 489 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 1: I Foster yeah, And anybody who wants to figure out 490 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: how to replicate that in all fifty states be my guest, 491 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: because if it's doing that amazing for kids to get 492 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: them jobs and and teach them how to keep jobs, 493 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: because jobs change lives. When you are independent, when you 494 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: can develop those life skills to hold a job, pay 495 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: your bills, pay your rent, pay your car payment, payer 496 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: cell phone, and you're not dependent, that changes the trajectory 497 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: of your life forever exactly. And you know, back to youth, 498 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 1: age out of foster care are particularly affected by this 499 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: problem because four years after the age out of the system, 500 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: again from age depending where they are, your percent them 501 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: don't have any earnings. And you know, those who are 502 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: earning money are making an average annual income in the neighborhoo, 503 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: you know, ten to twelve tho dollars a year, not 504 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: enough to live on. So this is a really, really 505 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: important area. And we know that poverty is one of 506 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: the biggest factors in addiction. So you're just repeating the cycle. 507 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: If you're only making ten grand a year, you're twenty 508 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: one years old, you're trying to start your life, you're 509 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 1: going to be constantly behind the eight ball. Constantly feeling 510 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,120 Speaker 1: like a failure and you're probably gonna self medicate just 511 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:29,479 Speaker 1: like mom and dad did. Yeah, poverty is the single 512 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: greatest determinant for a youth going into foster care. Uh So, 513 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: anything we can do to your point now to end 514 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: the cycle, um, you know, to to move the youth 515 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: up the ladder into well paying jobs, into a life 516 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: that when everything to thrived we should be doing and 517 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 1: anything we can do to help their parents before it 518 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: gets to that point as a society, as a community, 519 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: anything that we can do to help break that cycle 520 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: of poverty will help kids. You know, it's the ripple effect. Yeah, 521 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: I mean, the truth is, you and I have talked 522 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 1: a lot about foster care. But you know the truth is, 523 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: in the end, what we want to see is fewer 524 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: and few were children going into foster care right entering 525 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: the system. We want to see the work done to 526 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: you know, focus on child and family well being and 527 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: the well being of the family that the child is 528 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: in so that the child can stay with that family. 529 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 1: So foster moore is vital now and we need foster parents. 530 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 1: But in the end, what we want to see is, 531 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: you know, more families be able to find the kind 532 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: of support that they need in their communities to address 533 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: the stress and challenges, say faith, and therefore they're children face. 534 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: So we need more of these partners and communities to 535 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: join together that we can build communities of hope for 536 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 1: children and families, because then we all thrive and prosper 537 00:32:56,360 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 1: if the children are communities are thriving and prospering well, 538 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: hopefully working together. Jennifer with with Foster More and the 539 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:13,719 Speaker 1: Children's Action Network and KASA workers and I think for me, 540 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: the main thing is helping people to become aware so 541 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 1: these kids aren't in the dark, they're not in the shadows, 542 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: they're not throw away kids. That people are aware that 543 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: foster kids need love. And if we all work together, 544 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: you know, maybe those numbers will start going down instead 545 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: of keep going up, you know. And I think an 546 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 1: important part of that too, and it's another thing that's 547 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: it's happily changing, is this reminder to to listen to 548 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: the voices of the youth when you're looking at doing 549 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: things within the system, because they're the ones that are 550 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: impacted by it. They can tell you what works and 551 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: what doesn't because they have lived experience. So this is 552 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: an important piece and it's been growing over time. There's 553 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: a great organization called Think of Us with a tremendous advocate. 554 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: He's been doing a lot of work to say, hey, 555 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: use voices there. There's lots and lots of organizations. Use 556 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 1: voices are crucial. You know, you're you're shaping assistant that 557 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 1: impacts us. Let us tell you, those of us who've 558 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: lived through it, what works and what doesn't and what 559 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 1: needs to change. People forget how much I think their 560 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: own families have given to them in the expectation that 561 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, any of these youth can do it alone. 562 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:29,320 Speaker 1: Very very, very few people that I know, at eighteen 563 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,839 Speaker 1: or twenty one years old can be on their own. 564 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: And even forget the finances. I mean, I was financially 565 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 1: independent at eighteen. I left my parents home at eighteen. 566 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:42,920 Speaker 1: I never took a dime from them. I was financially independent. 567 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,240 Speaker 1: I called my mama at least twice a day, every 568 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: day until the day God called her home. I called 569 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 1: my mom for everything. If I didn't know how to 570 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: make a Thanksgiving turkey, I called my mom. I had 571 00:34:56,719 --> 00:35:00,800 Speaker 1: that unconditional love and support that no matter what I did, 572 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 1: I knew that my mother loved me more than life. Yeah, 573 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 1: and to not have that is unimaginable right to have 574 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,040 Speaker 1: instead of that a chasm, to not really know where 575 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:19,879 Speaker 1: to turn, to not have that guidance. And on top 576 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: of that, you know, so many of these used for 577 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,320 Speaker 1: the burden of what did I do wrong? Um, because 578 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:28,319 Speaker 1: it's it's hard not to think that, you know, what 579 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 1: did I do wrong? That my parents were unable to 580 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 1: keep me uh, and that that's a heavy burden to 581 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:38,279 Speaker 1: carry as well. But on a on a lighter note, 582 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,880 Speaker 1: I talked to my daughter twice a day, um, you know, 583 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: and I can't imagine not and and even you were 584 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:50,440 Speaker 1: asking earlier about a story about a h using foster care. 585 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:54,720 Speaker 1: And one of my favorites is to outstanding young woman 586 00:35:55,520 --> 00:36:01,239 Speaker 1: whose mother sadly suffered from addiction in the collector complete uh, 587 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:05,040 Speaker 1: you know, and a drugs In all the above, she 588 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,799 Speaker 1: is an extraordinary young woman. She got a scholarship, she 589 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:12,319 Speaker 1: went to Barnard and it's funny how we all think 590 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 1: she's such a beautiful young woman, copes with everything. And 591 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,719 Speaker 1: then I thought, how exciting to go to New York 592 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:23,759 Speaker 1: and have all these experiences. And then it was difficult 593 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,359 Speaker 1: for her from day one because she had never been 594 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 1: to New York. There wasn't anyone to tell her what 595 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: New York was like. She had never been in college before. 596 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:33,800 Speaker 1: Every experience that you thought would be wonderful enough listening 597 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:36,359 Speaker 1: was a challenge. She felt like she didn't fit in. 598 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 1: You know. It's so college was extremely intelligent young woman, 599 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:44,120 Speaker 1: but a struggle because there was nobody there to walk 600 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: her through the norms and you know, the norms and 601 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:52,799 Speaker 1: the pitfalls and everything else. Um. So she made it through, 602 00:36:53,239 --> 00:37:00,160 Speaker 1: but it was extraordinarily difficult for her because there wasn't 603 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: a steady force in her life, you know, no one 604 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,160 Speaker 1: she could turn to and say, I don't I don't 605 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 1: understand this. I'm lost, I'm flailing. And now please tell 606 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:13,279 Speaker 1: me that she managed and is doing well. She did, 607 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:17,439 Speaker 1: she is. She moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut and now Jersey City. Um, 608 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 1: she wants to pursue a career in education and that 609 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:24,080 Speaker 1: is what she was doing. So she's an l A girl, 610 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 1: an l A girl in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I know that's 611 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 1: quite a culture shock at culture change, but I love Bridgeport. 612 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 1: So she will have fun. Now she's in Jersey City, 613 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: which she's New York. So um. But I remember when 614 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:48,560 Speaker 1: she got into through Barnard and I took her shopping 615 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:51,759 Speaker 1: to get her ready for the East Coast, and we 616 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:56,399 Speaker 1: had a long discussion about why she didn't need those 617 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,080 Speaker 1: heavy coats and furry things. And I kept looking at 618 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:02,840 Speaker 1: her and going, when you're in New York on December, 619 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 1: you are going to be glad. I bought you wool socks. 620 00:38:07,719 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: You are going to be You are not going to 621 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,960 Speaker 1: argue with me. And she came home in December and 622 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:14,680 Speaker 1: we went shocking again and she's like, can we get 623 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:20,799 Speaker 1: some more of those warm things? Oh, Jennifer, thank you 624 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:23,320 Speaker 1: for spending time here with us today. I think between 625 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:25,360 Speaker 1: the two of us we could change the world. I 626 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 1: think we need to figure out how to do that 627 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:31,040 Speaker 1: as a team. Well, Delila, honestly, what you do on 628 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: the show, what you do with your charity, your passion, 629 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:39,040 Speaker 1: I mean, your voice is extraordinary. I've been I've been 630 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:43,239 Speaker 1: inspired by your passion. So thank you, and I hope 631 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:45,320 Speaker 1: we can figure out some other ways to work together. 632 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:50,480 Speaker 1: Because your passion and you're of the system, I think 633 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:55,040 Speaker 1: it's it's just what we need. So thank you. Well. Unfortunately, 634 00:38:55,080 --> 00:38:57,200 Speaker 1: my passion and my anger get in the way and 635 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:59,160 Speaker 1: I'm not as effective as I would like to be. 636 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: And that's where you come in, because you sound like 637 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 1: you have figured out how to use your passion in 638 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: a very positive way to bring about the changes. Um 639 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:13,400 Speaker 1: where I just want to take a sledgehammer and you know, 640 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:19,440 Speaker 1: I get so mad. We'll be a team. We may 641 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: compliment each other perfectly, and you know it's it's because 642 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 1: our constant messages. And I'll just tell you that. The 643 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,920 Speaker 1: way I sometimes sum up Foster More is, you know 644 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:31,560 Speaker 1: a lot of times now someone meets youth and Foster 645 00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 1: Care and they sort of go, Uh. What we want 646 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 1: to do is change the paradigm so that someone meets 647 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 1: the youth on foster Care and they look at him 648 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 1: and they go, oh my god, you must be extraordinary 649 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:48,279 Speaker 1: to have made it this far with the obstacles that 650 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:50,560 Speaker 1: are placed in front of you. You have got to 651 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:55,600 Speaker 1: be resilient, have so much more potential. How can I 652 00:39:55,600 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 1: help you realize that potential and give you the future 653 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:03,719 Speaker 1: you deserve. That's what we want. Well to that end, 654 00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:07,680 Speaker 1: let's work together. Jennifer, Thank you for being with us today. 655 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:11,640 Speaker 1: Where can folks find you? With Foster More? People who 656 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:17,879 Speaker 1: are interested in helping youth in foster care in any way, 657 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:21,759 Speaker 1: shape or form, be it helping them with their education, 658 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:26,000 Speaker 1: becoming an advocate, becoming a mentor. Uh. They can find 659 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:30,239 Speaker 1: all those resources at our website foster more dot org. 660 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:33,800 Speaker 1: So it's f O S E R M O R 661 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 1: E dot org. I hope you will visit that the 662 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:42,880 Speaker 1: foster care system needs partners and advocates and helpers, like 663 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 1: all the people who listen to this show. If you 664 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:48,680 Speaker 1: listen to this show and the wonderful Delilah, I know 665 00:40:48,760 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 1: you're a person that cares. So I'm hoping we can 666 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:53,800 Speaker 1: harness some of that caring on behalf of youth and 667 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:57,359 Speaker 1: foster care. Thank you, Jennifer, God bless you. Go hug 668 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:01,719 Speaker 1: on your girls. I will hug on mind tonight for you. Okay, 669 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: Thanks Forlilah. V Jennifer Perry, executive director of Children's Action 670 00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:13,440 Speaker 1: Network and co founder of Foster More and most importantly, 671 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:17,120 Speaker 1: a foster parent who adopted her to foster daughters, Thank 672 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: you for spending time here with us today. My head 673 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,560 Speaker 1: is spinning. My husband's gonna say no, no, no, no, no, 674 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:30,359 Speaker 1: we can't do this again. We're down to just four 675 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:32,759 Speaker 1: kids at home, the first time I've had less than 676 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:36,200 Speaker 1: six kids at home in many, many years. But Jennifer, 677 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:38,560 Speaker 1: thank you for spending the time that you spent with 678 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,800 Speaker 1: us today. I want to encourage people to find out 679 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,959 Speaker 1: about how they can get involved with kids in foster care, 680 00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:49,280 Speaker 1: how they can become a foster parent or a coast 681 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:52,919 Speaker 1: a worker or a mentor, or how their business can 682 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:57,480 Speaker 1: get involved and hire teenagers in foster care who are 683 00:41:57,520 --> 00:42:00,839 Speaker 1: about to age out or are aging out. So go 684 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:07,080 Speaker 1: to foster more dot org, go to the Children's Action Network, 685 00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 1: or check out Point Hope because we do programs for 686 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:15,120 Speaker 1: foster kids in many communities, and together we can use 687 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:19,040 Speaker 1: our resources, we can use our passion and our energy 688 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:23,000 Speaker 1: to change the world for good. I will talk to 689 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,200 Speaker 1: you next time. I love someone. In the meantime, listen 690 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 1: to my radio show every night wherever you are, and 691 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:32,760 Speaker 1: if you can't find it, download the I Heart Radio app.