“The future belongs to young people with an education
and the imagination to create." - President Barack Obama
Look for Fostering Vermont each week and be sure to send your news, events and other items of importance and interest to:mary.collins@vermont.gov THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: TUESDAY, NOON.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
helpful news and information
A message from Commissioner, Ken Schatz
PROCLAMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR OF VERMONT
State of Vermont Executive Department
A Proclamation
WHEREAS, families, serving as the primary sources of love, identity, selfesteem and support, are the very foundations of our communities and our state; and
WHEREAS, in Vermont, there are over 1,100 children and youth residing in foster, kinship or specialized foster homes where their safety and wellbeing needs are being met until their families are able to safely resume parenting responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, there are numerous individuals, as well as public and private organizations, who work to increase public awareness of children's needs who are currently in or leaving foster care; and
WHEREAS, in these extraordinary times, we recognize the outstanding service and commitment foster and kinship families provide to Vermont children and youth, while recognizing that foster care is a support to families, not a substitute for parents; and
WHEREAS, we honor the enduring contributions of foster, kinship and adoptive parents, and all who make the foster care system the supportive network it is.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, Governor, hereby proclaim May 2020 as
FOSTER CARE MONTH in Vermont.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont on this 15th day of May, A.D. 2020.
Philip B. Scott
Governor
Brittney L. Wilson
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATES! YOU HAVE 2020 VISION AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, HOW YOU HAVE PERSEVERED, AND WHAT GREAT THINGS YOU HAVE YET TO DO!
POST SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE
Amy Dworkin
Between 20,000 and 25,000 young adults age out of foster care each year. A college education is as important to them as it is to their peers who were not in foster care, and they are as likely as their peers to have college aspirations.
Nevertheless, there continues to be a wide gap in postsecondary educational attainment between youth in foster care and other young adults. Compared to their non-foster care peers, youth in foster care are less likely to enroll in college if they complete high school, and less likely to graduate from college if they enroll. Several factors, including both academic and non-academic challenges, may contribute to this gap in postsecondary educational attainment.
First, youth in foster care are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to exploring their postsecondary options and navigating the college application process. The reality for many youth in foster care is that they cannot turn to their parents for information about college, assistance with college applications, help paying for college, or emotional support to cope with the academic demands and social stresses related to college life. Nor can they necessarily count on assistance with college exploration or applying to college from their caseworkers, foster parents or other caregivers. Additionally, youth in foster care are often unaware of their eligibility for financial aid from federal and state programs, their college or university, and private scholarships, or don’t have anyone to assist them with the application process.
Second, youth in foster care may be unprepared for college level work because they frequently change schools when their placements change, are tracked into basic education (rather than college preparatory) courses, or attend low performing elementary and high schools. Many who do enroll in college are required to take remedial courses before they can take courses that count towards their degree. This increases the amount of time needed to graduate and the cost of earning their degree.
Non-academic challenges can also be a barrier to educational attainment for youth in foster care in college. For example, mental and behavioral health problems are more prevalent among youth in foster care than among their non-foster peers, and these problems may interfere with their ability to succeed in college, particularly if, as frequently occurs, they discontinue treatment after they leave care. Student services personnel, including those who work with low-income and first-generation-in-college students, are often unfamiliar with the challenges faced by youth in foster care and not prepared to address their unique needs. Lack of access to affordable housing can be another barrier to pursuing postsecondary education, and is a major concern among youth in foster care especially during winter, spring and summer breaks. Furthermore, the rate of early parenthood among youth in foster care is high, and child care responsibilities prevent many youth in foster care from pursuing postsecondary education.
Scholarships for Students Experiencing Foster Care
The federal government and the State of Vermont each has a scholarship program dedicated to helping young adults who have gone through the foster care system pay for college or career training programs. You can also find additional scholarships for Vermonters on this website or in the VSAC scholarships booklet. Download a PDF version of the booklet or order a free print version by mail.
Vermont John H. Chafee Education and Training Scholarship
(Sponsored by the federal government)
If you’ve experienced foster care and have recently graduated from high school, this scholarship may be right for you. Its purpose is to help young adults who’ve been in the foster care system prepare for and enter job training programs or college. Funding for this scholarship requires annual federal approval.
Under this scholarship, you may be enrolled in any program—and there are no requirements as to the number of credits that you must take.
Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
Experienced Department for Children and Families (DCF) custody after the age of 14 (after age 16 if exited to adoption or legal guardianship).
Be under the age of 26 and have not participated in the program for more than 5 years (years do not have to be consecutive).
Demonstrate financial need.
Attend an accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding (Pell grants, federal Direct loans).
Required documents: To apply for this scholarship, you’ll need to submit a:
Amount:Scholarships generally range from $1,000 to $3,000 and may not exceed $5,000. The amount disbursed cannot exceed your total cost of attendance as defined by federal aid (tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal expenses).
Emily Lester Vermont Opportunity Scholarship
(Sponsored by the State of Vermont)
If you’ve experienced foster care and you’re ready to go to college, this scholarship—funded by the State of Vermont—may be right for you.
Under this scholarship, you must be enrolled in an undergraduate associate’s or bachelor’s degree program. There are no requirements as to the number of credits that you must take.
Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
Attend an accredited school located within Vermont and approved for federal Title IV funding (Pell grants, federal Direct loans)
Be currently under the custody of the Vermont Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) OR be between the ages of 18 and 24 and have been under the custody of the Vermont Commissioner of the DCF for at least 6 months when you were between the ages of 16 and 18
Demonstrate financial need
Required documents: To apply for this scholarship, you’ll need to submit a:
Amount:Scholarships generally range from $1,000 to $2,000 and may not exceed $3,000. The amount disbursed cannot exceed your total costs (tuition, fees, room, and board) minus your expected family contribution (EFC) and all other sources of gift aid combined.
Martin Lamonica | Deputy Editor | TheConversation.com
With many colleges and universities still deciding when to re-open their campuses after they were shuttered due to COVID-19, many high school seniors are thinking about taking a gap year. Putting off college during the pandemic might enable them to get the on-campus experience they desire in 2021 instead of going to school remotely this fall.
Traditionally, a gap year is a semester or year of learning through experience. It is typically taken after high school and before college or starting a career. However, some college students choose to take a gap year while they’re still in college or before going to graduate school.
As the coordinator of a research group that examines the impact of taking a gap year, here are five ways that students will benefit from the gap year experience.
1. Avoid burnout
Perhaps most importantly, given the pressure in many high schools to excel in school and extracurricular activities to gain admission to college, a gap year gives students the opportunity to do something completely different. Just taking that step off the treadmill can lead to new growth and self-discovery.
2. Gain maturity
Taking a break from your formal education can contribute to a deeper appreciation of what the purpose of school is really all about. This, in turn, allows students to begin college with a more mature and focused mindset.
A gap year can provide the opportunity to discover new areas of interest and even to completely reinvent yourself. One good example was a student who spent his gap year working as a fishing guide in Alaska. That experience led him to major in environmental resource management. Ultimately, he embarked on a career in nature conservation.
3. Boost academic performance
Could taking a break slow down a student’s academic momentum? Actually, research conducted by an economist at Middlebury College – and replicated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – found the opposite is true. Not only did students who took a gap year perform, on average, better than those who did not, they actually performed better than would have been predicted, based on their academic credentials when they applied to college. For instance, the study found that the students who took a gap year earned GPAs that were .15 to .25 points higher than predicted.
4. Earn academic credit
At least one gap year program also provides the opportunity to be admitted to and earn academic credit at a variety of colleges. Other schools, such as Florida State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Princeton and Tufts University offer their own gap year programs for students who want to postpone their on-campus enrollment for a year, but not always for academic credit. These college-based programs can also include financial assistance when needed.
5. Gain independence
It’s not necessary to stick with a formal gap year program or limit yourself to just one activity. In my 45 years of working with gap year students, I’ve found that some of the best gap year experiences are those that are self-designed.
If you create your own gap year experience, the most important thing to figure out is what you want to get out of it – be that work experience in a career you intend to pursue, learning a foreign language, doing community service or gaining greater cultural or environmental awareness. Then it’s a matter of creating experiences that lead to that goal.
One memorable example was a student from Oklahoma who spent the first four months of her gap year tending llamas at a monastery in North Dakota, the next four months working for a lawyer in Tulsa and the last four volunteering at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
Resources available
While taking a gap year can often cost a lot of money, that doesn’t mean the gap year experience is limited only to those who can afford it. Many of the more expensive gap year programs offer need-based financial aid.
It is also important to remember that many self-designed gap year experiences can cost very little, or even provide the opportunity to earn money through jobs or paid internships. Alternatively, it could involve doing volunteer work while living at home. For volunteer experiences away from home, sometimes students get their travel and living expenses covered. Service opportunities are often voluntary and therefore unpaid, but programs such as AmeriCorps’ City Year provide stipends to cover room and board expenses.
For those who want to join an existing gap year program, there are plenty of opportunities that provide students with a wide range of domestic and international experiences, leadership opportunities, and less formal learning environments. For example, you could check with the Gap Year Association for lists of accredited programs and its own research on the impact of taking a gap year. In addition, USA Gap Year Fairs sponsors fairs around the country in late winter where gap year programs provide information about their opportunities. There are also a number of accredited independent gap year consultants around the country who can provide expert advice on gap year experiences.
For high school seniors contemplating deferring enrollment in college until they can be assured of having the on-campus experience they envisioned, May and early June is the time to consider gap year opportunities and to inform the college admissions office of their desire to delay their enrollment. Not all colleges have the same gap year policies, however, and some are reviewing them in the context of the current pandemic. For these reasons, it is important to learn what a particular college’s or university’s policies are and to make sure you meet the deadlines to inform the institution of your plans.
IN YOUR DISTRICT
news from around the state
Send us news of what's happening in your community and district.
We'll post highlights here. Email to: mary.collins@vermont.gov
As we continue to shelter in place and remain safe from exposure to Covid-19, here are some helpful tips you and your family can use to make the experience less stressful. As always, contact your District Office, should you need support during this critical time. Here is a link to our District Offices: https://dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/contact-us/districts
PLEASE NOTE: Foster parents will continue to receive the $10/day/child reimbursement increase through the month of May. Caregiver reimbursement will revert to pre-COVID rates starting June 1st.
Home But Not Alone:
A Family Connection Series
FROM THE VERMONT CHILD WELFARE TRAINING PARTNERSHIP
Wednesdays - 1 to 1:30 pm
June 3rd: Pain, RAIN, and the Heart of Self-Care Janine Beaudry
Self-care is becoming a household buzzword. But what could being gentle and kind to yourself look like day to day during this uncertain time? Come discuss ways we might tap into sources of joy and energy right from the living room...and discover what a difference true self-care can make during difficult times.
Vermont Early Childhood Forum on Mental Health: Tools for professionals to support children through transitions during the coronavirus crisis
Topic: Tools for professionals to support children through transitions during the coronavirus crisis Date: Thursday June 4 from 11:00 am-12:00 pm
As the coronavirus crisis continues, early childhood professionals are supporting children and families in creative ways. The sudden closures and now slow reopening of childcare, work and community bring new stressors. If you’re anxious about this next phase of the pandemic response and how to support children, families and staff, you are in good company!
Building Bright Futures in partnership with the Department of Mental Health invites you to the next in a series of Early Childhood Forums on Mental Health with a panel of mental health experts to help you and your staff through these transitions.
Panelists include:
Dave Melnick- Director of Outpatient Services, NFI Vermont
Meagan Roy-Director of Student Support Services, Champlain Valley School District
The forum will include resources on stress and trauma in children, how to create workforce well-being for providers, steps programs can take to support children and families through transitions, stories and Q&A. You can submit a question in advance here. This forum has a capacity of 500 people. Professional development credit through Northern Lights is available.
Also in this series: Mental Health Forum for families tomorrow on May 27th from 1:00-1:45pm with a panel of experts in child development. Click here for more information. Both forums will be recorded and available on the BBF website.
Please note that once you register with Eventbrite, your confirmation email will contain a link and call-in number to join the forum near the bottom of the email.
SUPPORTS FOR TRANSITION-AGED YOUTH
As you know, COVID has hit the most vulnerable harder than most, and you play a critical role in ensuring those in harm’s way are reached and receive the support they need in critical moments. Transition aged youth are vulnerable already, and even more so during the COVID pandemic. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the supports and services available so that you can be a part of putting that safety net in place for transition aged youth!
This email is meant to be a reminder of available services for the older adolescent/youth population in the care of Family Services, and also an invitation to reach out for consultation whenever it would be helpful. With respect to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, we request that folks be proactive in reaching out to the youth on your caseload, and make extra efforts to engage them given that they are at a vulnerable transition point in their lives in general, significantly underscored by the pandemic.
Youth who are enrolled in secondary education and continuing to work on the goals of the case plan, OR in a transition period of up to six months following high school graduation,
The regulations also allow youth who withdraw or are terminated from this program to apply for re-entry up to the age of 23.
For these cases:
DCF maintains an open case, monthly face-to-face visits, and continues to work with the youth, YDP, the placement provider, and other team members to ensure high school completion and a smooth transition to young adulthood,
DCF provides substitute care payments for the youth in approved living arrangements at the same rate paid before the youth turned 18,
We want to encourage district offices to reach out to me for considerations around keeping cases open through this period of time beyond the eligibility criteria identified above, or for consultation about specific youth and their needs with regard to the pandemic. Also, please continue to ensure that youth are referred to and engaged with the Youth Development Program (YDP) for transitional supports and services.
Thank you all for your efforts in continuing to support children, youth, and families through this difficult time!
All the best,
Amanda Churchill, LICSW
Policy & Practice Specialist
Juvenile Justice/Adolescent Services Unit
DCF Family Services
280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671
(802)585-0554 Amanda.Churchill@vermont.gov
SUBSTANCE USE SERIES Are you caring for a youth who has substance use issues?
This virtual 3-part series is designed for kin, foster and adoptive families caring for youth struggling with substance use issues. This is an opportunity to learn about addiction, testing, treatment options and how to be supportive to the youth you are caring for. We will also be hosting a town hall style panel with young adults who were in foster care while struggling with substance use. It is recommended, but not required that you attend all three parts in this series.
Treatment Options
Thursday, May 28, 2020
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Bert Klavens, LADC, has worked with youth, adults and families in Vermont for over 20 years. He utilizes a holistic, strength-based approach that focuses on helping people understand habitual behaviors and identify their motivations for change.
Panel with Youth and
Youth Development
Coordinator
Saturday, May 30, 2020
1 :00 pm-2:30 pm
We will host two young adults who will discuss how substances affected their lives. They will be joined by a Youth Development Coordinator who will talk about services and supports available to youth.
To enroll in this series:
Please identify which parts of the series that you want to attend, your name, address, phone number and district that you work with. You will receive information about this virtual training series after you enroll.
helpful news and information from our VFAFA partners
VFAFA NEWS
Here you will find notices of upcoming meetings, events, and news of special interest from our VFAFA partners. If you would like to suggest a topic or share news from your Parent Group, please send an email: mary.collins@vermont.gov with details. Thank you!
The next VFAFA meeting is scheduled for: Tuesday, June 9th from 7-9pm via ZOOM. The link can be found on the VFAFA Facebook page.
VFAFA Conference Update We regret that we were unable to hold the annual VFAFA conference this year in person. We missed seeing all of you! Here is the link for trainings. People can click the title of the workshop that will bring you to the registration. Join us for 2020 VFAFA Webinars! May 28
3:00-4:00pm Power Struggles: How to Win the War with Teenagers During a Pandemic
presented by Adrian McLemore, Jamole Callahan & Michael Sanders
May 29 6:30-7:45pm Strengthening Attachment During Uncertain Times
presented by Rachel Totten
8:00-8:45pm Digital Citizenship & How To Establish Healthy Internet Habits *PG-13for Your Teens presented by Jamie Dansereau
June 1 3:00-3:45pm In the Best Interest of the Child: Creating a Post Adoption Contact Agreement
presented by Christina Shuma
7:00-8:00pm Self-Care 101
presented by Abby Skidmore
Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association's 2020 Annual Meeting will be held on June 9, 2020 via zoom.
All VFAFA members are encouraged to attend and cast your votes for:
VFAFA President 2020-2022
VFAFA Secretary 2020-2022
Members at large.
Topic: VFAFA 2020 Annual Meeting Time: Jun 9, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time
Meeting ID: 656 294 0890 One tap mobile +16468769923,,6562940890#
Dial by your location +1 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 656 294 0890 __________________________________________________
Are you interested in the mission of Foster and Adopted Children in Vermont?
Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association is electing a President and Secretary for the 2020-2022 term, as well as 8 Members at Large.
Are you interested in any of these volunteer positions?
Do you have time to dedicate to helping build sustainable programs and policies?
If you are eligible and interested please email board@vfafa.net by June 2, 2020.
ELIGIBILITY:
Either be licensed or formerly licensed foster parents and/or kincare provider in the State of Vermont in good standing and/or have served as Board members.
TERM:
The offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be for a two- year term which shall commence at the first Board meeting following the Annual Meeting.
Nominations for the eight (8) at-large Board members will be reviewed and approved by the Executive Board and voted on by the full Board. Members at-large shall be reviewed annually and inactive members shall not be renewed.
OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES:
PRESIDENT: The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association. The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership or of the Board. The President shall be responsible to see that all the requirements of these by-laws, applicable Vermont State Statutes and all directives of the membership and of the Board are faithfully enforced. The President shall be responsible for the general management and supervision of the affairs and operation of the Association, including signing all contracts or obligations at the direction of either the Executive Board or the Board. The President shall work in conjunction with the State of Vermont Department for Children & Families/Family Services to coordinate any position they share.
SECRETARY: The Secretary shall act as clerk of all meetings of the members, the Board, and the Executive Board. The Secretary shall serve as the historian of the Association and keep a record in archive (both electronically and hard copy) of all said meetings. The Secretary will disburse minutes of all said meetings, as appropriate, at the next scheduled Board meeting.
MEMBER AT LARGE: Members at large are voting board members who support the work and mission of VFAFA and VFAFA Executive Board.
YOUTH VOICE
helpful news and information in support of youth in foster care
Vermont's Youth Development Program
The Youth Development Program’s virtual Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is hosting a Movie Club (similar to a Book Club). Each week youth throughout the state of Vermont vote on a new movie to watch and then to discuss in the following YAB meeting.
The YDP Movie Club has been a great way to stay connected with others and make friends while social distancing. This week we are watching Little Miss Sunshine (A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear).
Virtual YAB meetings are every Thursday from 2-3 pm. All youth currently (or previously) involved in the child welfare system are welcome to join YAB meetings to pick the next movie, make friends with like-minded peers, and support each other and our community through this pandemic.
Contact Kayla @ kaltobelli@wcysb.org for more information on how you can join the Movie Club and YDP's virtual YAB.
Kayla Altobelli
Youth Engagement Coordinator Youth Development Program Washington County Youth Service Bureau P.O. Box 627, 38 Elm St. Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 229-9151
VIRTUAL EVENTS virtual events of interest
for vermont foster and kincare families
PLEASE CONFIRM THAT EVENTS OF INTEREST POSTED ON THIS CALENDAR ARE HAPPENING. CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS MAY OCCUR WITHOUT NOTICE.
Despite the current circumstances, you can still celebrate your graduate at home. If you’d like to make your graduate’s day special, we have some suggestions for a do-it-yourself graduation day that no one will ever forget!
From classic read-alouds to inspirational nonfiction, books that contain valuable life lessons are perfect for celebrating any middle schooler's graduation.
New recruitment messages in support of critical needs in each district are launched on Front Porch Forum on a regular, continuous basis. If you know of a person or family, like yourself, who might be interested in foster care, please let your District office know and please subscribe to your community's Front Porch Forum.
Please note: Front Porch Forum messages are not the stories of specific children but composite stories of children who may have been in our care. We use stories to illustrate the experiences of children and youth and to help find appropriate foster care for all. Do YOU have a story to share with us about your experience as a Foster parent? If so, email: mary.collins@vermont.gov
Here is one of these messages: _________________________________________
...MY STORY
May is National Foster Care Month
May is National Foster Care Month. It is the time of year we honor the more than 1500 Vermont foster, kin and respite care providers for their generous care of children in need. Here’s one of those stories:
When I arrived in the United States I was seven years old. I did not know how to speak, write, or understand the English language. It was hard for me to talk with my teachers or classmates. Kids at school would bully me. I worked hard to adapt to my new country. Sadly, the transition was even harder on my mother. She would disappear for 2 or 3 days at a time, leaving my brothers and I home alone. I was scared that one day she would leave and not come back.
When our mother wasn’t able to provide safe care for us, luckily, there was a family that could. They provided foster care for myself and my two brothers – all three of us together.
This family treated me like their own daughter. They believed in me and in my brothers. With their care, we were able to feel part of a family again. We were safe. The world has not always been kind to us but, I also know while life sometimes places you in difficult situations, with a positive outlook, a strong heart, and someone who cares, anyone can overcome any obstacle.
Now that I am older, I see things from a different perspective, and I see how much our mother struggled. I would give up anything just to see her smile. Thankfully, we are still in each other’s lives, our relationship is strong, and I have caring foster parents to thank for taking care of me, providing a home when I most needed it, advising me, and providing a home life my mother struggled to give.
Foster care is support to families; not a substitute for parents.
Here in Vermont there are over 1100 children and youth in foster care and more than 1500 caring families and individuals who support them in times of need. Foster care can be an opportunity to identify family needs, form supportive relationships, and respond with the right mix of services to get families on the path to reunification.
Contact the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division to find out more about caring for a child or youth in your community. https://dcf.vermont.gov/foster. Thank you.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thank you for your generous support!
THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS, VPR , VTPBS AND FRONT PORCH FORUM!
May is National Foster Care Month. It is important that we share our stories and work with all Vermonters so that those who provide care to children and youth in foster care are acknowledged and appreciated for your commitment to all Vermont's children. This year, the Vermont Association of Broadcasters, Vermont Public Radio, VTPBS and Front Porch Forum stepped up in a very generous way to share or message statewide - particularly with the need for increased awareness due to Covid-19. Special thanks go to, Wendy Mays, Executive Director of the VAB, Pam Kerr and Chrystie Heimert of VTPBS, Gail England of VPR, the team at Front Porch Forum, and WVNY/FOX44 for production of our TV message (linked here):
There are over 1100 children and youth in foster care in Vermont. During this demanding time, we continue to seek and need care providers to support children and youth who have experienced separation, trauma and the uncertainty of their stability at home. Thank you to everyone who has continued to support children and youth in foster care. We appreciate you more than we can express! And, should you know of someone who might provide foster care, please contact your District Office. Here is a link to the district offices statewide:
Are you a foster care provider who would be willing to speak with the press? If so, we would LOVE to hear from you. From time-to-time, the Commissioner's Office receives requests for interviews. Perhaps your story may be one we could share? For more information, contact: Luciana.DiRuocco@vermont.gov.