Sirrele Steinfeld on LinkedIn: So excited to connect with my partners at DCFS this week to get these in… (2024)

Navigating Rejection as a Foster Youth Alum: A Journey from Founder of Fostering MindsAs a foster youth alum and founder of Fostering Minds, my life's narrative intertwines with the intricate dance of rejection and resilience. Each rejection becomes a divine intervention, shielding me from connections that might not fully appreciate the strength embedded in the experiences of foster youth.As founder of Fostering Minds I have come to the understanding that rejection isn't a dismissal of my worth but a redirection towards individuals and opportunities aligned with our mission. Every closed door is a step closer to fostering meaningful connections, both within the organization and beyond, where our shared experiences are not only acknowledged but celebrated.Through Fostering Minds, my journey as a foster youth alum takes on a new purpose — turning rejection into a powerful tool for self-discovery and empowerment others foster youth on this journey. Together, we navigate the challenging terrain of life, transforming setbacks into stepping stones towards a community that recognizes and uplifts the resilience ingrained in the foster youth narrative. #FosterYouthAlum #FosteringMinds #EmbracingResilience

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This is Bold. As someone who worked in groups homes and children's mental health in Sacramento for 6 years, I am excited about the potential impact. Measure what matters and focus on outcomes. Going through the strategic planning process with state agencies right now, this is top of mind. You have to focus on outcomes not just inputs and outputs because you can check a box but it doesn't always mean you'll achieved the desired result. Looking at both enrollment and graduation is the key to demonstrating more students in foster care ( I reject foster youth like I reject homeless person because their identity is more than their circ*mstance) are successfully graduating. Just focusing on graduation rates could lead to inflated numbers if you don't balance it with how many are coming (Is it 75% of 4 or 400) and just focusing on enrollment does tell you how many persist.This is going to take a lot of ongoing support as they prepare to enter college but also once they're in to manage and balance all the issues that come with being a first time college students and coming out of the system.

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A message from our founder Shane Hanson"I was not a foster child.Over the past few months, I've been asked several times about my connection to foster youth. Let me clarify: I am not a foster child, nor have I been connected to the foster system in any direct way as a child. But my commitment to helping foster youth is strong and deeply personal.After graduating college and concluding my basketball career, I felt a strong desire to make a meaningful impact in the world. That's when I became aware of the challenges faced by foster youth - a group that often faces immense challenges through no fault of their own. Whether due to parental abuse, incarceration, or substance abuse issues, these young individuals frequently lack the stable, nurturing guidance that is so crucial during one's formative years.This realization sparked a fire within me. I founded the Freedom Youth Foundation in 2011 with a mission to offer hope and opportunities to at-risk youth. To date, we've served over 25,000 young people, and our efforts continue to grow.What's more, my own children have embraced this cause, demonstrating their own deep commitment to supporting foster youth. It's a family mission, and one that we hold close to our hearts.I urge you to consider joining this movement. Together, we can make a real, lasting difference in the lives of foster youth. Your support can provide the guidance, care, and opportunities they so richly deserve. Let's work together to give these young individuals a brighter, more hopeful future."🔗 Learn more about our programs and how you can be a part of this journey: www.freedom-youth.org🔍#FreedomYouthFoundation #NewYearNewBeginnings #FosterYouthEmpowerment #GrowWithUs #HopeAndOpportunity #fostercare #fosteryouth #lifeskillsforkids #financialliteracy #financialliteracyforkids #sports #athletics

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Join us in supporting foster youth education! The new report ‘Destination Graduation’ offers insights into how we can bridge the gap and ensure all students have the resources they need to reach their goals. Read more at: https://tfypc.org #supportfosteryouth #educationmatters #DestinationGraduation #fosteryouthsuccess #EducationGoals #fosteryouth #EducationEquity #HighSchoolCompletion #fosteryoutheducation #EducationForAll #CommunityImpact #youthempowerment

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Finding joy, meaning, and purpose in your work is so profound. For many, this alignment is now a requirement.While undoubtedly a tough gig, I'm so thankful to have and hold the spirit of community in and around me.At Hanna, we've been on a journey of resetting and recentering our purpose and identifying values that align with who we are and who we (individually and collectively) want to be, alongside the behaviors that we need to uphold to drive community, innovation and performance.As a brand deeply rooted in purpose and community, one of our values is “warm-hearted.” Giving centered around children's livelihoods has always been a central part of Hanna Andersson ‘s soul. After reviewing many organizations and potential partners in size and scope, this week, we announced our partnership with Foster Love - Together We Rise a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing foster youth.Foster Love - Together We Rise began as a sports camp offering after-school enrichment to foster youth who otherwise could not afford the activity of play. As the charity grew, it began tackling more significant problems, including access to higher education, emergency resources, and more.There are over 430,000 children in foster care and only 214,421 licensed foster parents, which means foster parents and agencies are often left with limited resources, and we’re hopeful that through our partnership, we too can support efforts in bringing wholesome experiences that empower kids to discover, grow and embrace the joys of childhood.This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission and values, and I'm excited about the positive impact we can make together.#purposealigned #championsofchildhood#socialimpact

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This essay is an impactful read, though I do express caution, particularly to my peers on this platform with lived experience in the foster care system: these photos and stories can be triggering. They are both raw and honest, thankfully without being sensationalized, but ultimately still very challenging to view. Read with caution and remember to provide aftercare for your mental health if they elicit feelings of trauma!In a new piece of photo journalism, ProPublica released a very accurate portrayal of the experiences of transitional aged youth (TAY) as they exit the foster care system, focusing on the jarring differences between the experiences of youth who have at least one adult in their support system helping them advocate for themselves, and the experiences of youth who don’t. The challenges that Birdie and Nevaeh face are nearly identical, and the level of State support the two young women receive is virtually indistinguishable from one another, however their life circ*mstances end up contrastingly different because of one single person intervening. The essay details the lack of appropriate housing for teenagers experiencing or aging out of foster care, transportation barriers, financial crisis, bureaucratic red tape surrounding the kind of support court-affiliated caregivers (CASA’s, social workers, etc) can provide, and the mental health crises caused by this trauma.

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California’s foster youth would greatly benefit from, and deserve, the best preparation and support for their lives after exiting care.In its recently-released "Destination Graduation" report, The Foster Youth Pre-College Collective details how you can help provide that to them. Please join us in lifting up California's foster youth - find out how here: https://bit.ly/3VcImL4

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The transformative power of mentorship and education is undeniable, particularly for our foster youth. Faced with statistics like only 50% of foster children completing high school and a mere 3-4% obtaining a college degree, the scale of challenges seems vast. Yet, stories of individual former foster youth shine bright, offering hope and resilience.Today, she's not just a diligent patient care coordinator for an audiologist but also a passionate college student, aspiring to be an attorney. 🎓 “I tend to be a workaholic," she reveals. In her moments of intensity, a devoted CASA volunteer has been her anchor. "For many, having someone to help navigate life's challenges seems commonplace, but for a former foster child like me, it feels like a gift."This young woman's story signifies the boundless potential foster youth possess and the remarkable difference our CASA volunteers make. 🌱 With the right guidance, each student can achieve greatness, surpassing barriers to higher education and promising careers.Stories like hers reaffirm our mission: transforming these overwhelming statistics, one success story at a time. We dream of a world where every foster child has the mentorship, support, and tools to actualize their dreams. 💫To our tireless CASA volunteers and supporters: Your unwavering commitment is illuminating paths for countless others. Thank you for turning dreams into realities. 🙏#FosterYouthRise #MentorshipMatters #CASAChangeMakers #EmpowerEducateElevate #DreamsToRealities

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The words we choose when looking after children in care and #careexperienced people, can make or break the culture you create.🟣What do I mean by "culture"?Culture is a system of learned and shared beliefs, language, "norms", values, and symbols that we use to identify ourselves and provide a framework within which to live and work.🔴An example that I have seen and heard many times over the years is...An adult standing in close proximity to a young person, arms folded, saying "It's time to grow up and stop acting stupid."🤦There are so many reasons why this very example needs to be reconsidered. Have a watch of this short video 📹 👀 Changing takes time, there's no better time to start than NOW 🌎💜#socialworkers #educators #teachers #residentialcare #fostering #therapists #traumainformed #community #weareallresponsible #accountability #prisons #probation I'm talking about everywhere.. in schools, in children's homes, in foster homes, at college, in the workplace and out in the community. I'd love to know your thoughts and experiences with this.

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Foster Kids in America-This episode traverses the landscape of foster care, from the Court Appointed Special Advocates in Ohio to the strugglesfacingolder teens on the cusp of independence. We tackle the questions: Why do educational deficits persist among foster children? What leads to the overrepresentation of impoverished youth in the system? And most importantly, how can education and individual advocacy bridge the gap of access and opportunity?https://lnkd.in/eGCtqD-e

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