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May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, find out what you can do to change a lifetime.
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May is National Foster Care Month

Minneapolis, MN, May 1, 2013– U.S. President Barack Obama has declared the month of May National Foster Care Month, to shine a light on the experiences and urgent needs of the more than 500,000 children and youth in the foster care system nationally. There are more than 11,000 children and youth in foster care in Minnesota. With more than 450 aging out of foster care each year, many are without homes, education, employment, or connections to caring adults. Children's Law Center of Minnesota in collaboration with Connections to Independence (C2i), Hennepin County, The Minnesota Guardian ad Litem Program (GAL of MN), and Ampersand Families, have formed a partnership to raise awareness around youth in the Minnesota foster care system that do not have permanent  connections to caring adults. These MNFCM Partners have produced a awareness video for Minnesota Foster Care Awareness, which features current and former foster youth. To watch the video and learn more about what you can do to get involved, please visit mnfostercaremonth.info. 
Watch the Video
  • Over 60% of Minnesota’s homeless youth population (age 21 and under) have been in foster homes or group homes; (Wilder 2009)
  • Only 46% of youth in foster care graduate from high school by the time they exit care (Click for source); and only 10% go on to post-secondary. (Click for source)
  • Youth in foster care suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at twice the rate of U.S. war veterans. (Click for source)
Join the 2013 Minnesota Foster Care Month Awareness Campaign at mnfostercaremonth.info to help local children and young people who are in foster care to gain access to supportive adults, and to successfully navigate the challenges of living in the foster care system. There are a number of ways that adults in the community can step up to support youth in the foster care system: becoming foster parents; volunteering as a guardian ad litem; providing volunteer legal representation; becoming an adoptive parent for an older youth; providing a summer  internship, and financially supporting the important work of agencies providing services to this population. 
 

Does a Foster Youth that you know need a Mentor?

Each young person should have a caring adult who devotes time to helping them achieve their potential and discover their strengths. Although mentors are not meant to replace a parent, guardian or teacher, they can often echo the positive values parents and guardians should be teaching. Many youth in foster care are unable to identify a caring adult who supports their goals and dreams. If your client could benefit from a mentoring relationship, check out the list of awesome programs available in the Twin Cities! Or call our social worker, Rachel Ayoub, for help finding a program that fits your client’s needs. 

Sometimes the relationship that our volunteer attorneys have with their clients can be a mentoring relationship. Here's what Sekou had to say about his volunteer attorney Steve:
  • "Honestly, I never looked at Steve as a lawyer but rather a mentor. He has always encouraged me to remain focused with school and to take advantage of good job opportunities when they're presented. Even today, I feel blessed to have Steve in my life because as a lawyer he goes above and beyond his duties. I thank Steve and many others for helping me get through those tough times while I was in the Foster Care system, because without their support I wouldn't be the man I am today." 

Nominate a Hero for CLC's 2013 Heroes for Children Award

Children’s Law Center of Minnesota (CLC) is accepting nominations for its 2013 Heroes for Children Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the well being of Minnesota’s children in either a career or volunteer position. The nominee may work with children in any area; for example, teaching, health care, legislation, advocacy, physical, spiritual, social, or emotional well being. Read MORE.

Outstate UPDATE: CLC's work in Greater Minnesota

On May 10, CLC held another training in Duluth,  Minnesota.  The training was attended by both local attorneys interested in volunteering and professionals who work with at-risk youth.  The half-day training was hosted by Legal Aid Service of North Eastern Minnesota and covered topics like permanency for foster youth, child trauma and mental health, and the Indian Child Welfare Act.  
 

Upcoming EVENTS

Third Annual Spring Wine Tasting – May 30, 2013
This year’s Wine Tasting will be held on Thursday, May 30th at Summit Manor (275 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102) from 6:30-8:30 pm. The event will feature six Spanish themed wines donated by Solo Vino, in St. Paul. General admission tickets are $25 each or 10 tickets for $200.  To purchase tickets, please go to: http://bit.ly/clcspringtasting. For more information please contact Heather Wolfgram at 651-644-4438 or hwolfgram@clcmn.org. THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY!

Representing Youth in Foster Care TRAINING - June 19, 2013
WE NEED YOU TO VOLUNTEER! TRAIN TO BE A CLC PRO BONO ATTORNEY. CLC's next training will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM, at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. (800 LaSalle Avenue, 2800 LaSalle Plaza, Minneapolis, MN 55402-2015). TO REGISTER please complete the attached form and return to CLC with your payment: CLC Training Brochure 6.19.13 Attorney's applying to become volunteer attorneys for CLC should also complete the VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY APPLICATION and either mail it to CLC or bring the completed paperwork with them to the RYFC training. (3.75 CLE credits applied for).

FREE Education Advocacy TRAINING: Promising Practices in Education Advocacy - June 24, 2013
Please Join CLC and the Youth Law Summit on June 24, 2013 from Noon to 1PM, at Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis for this free one hour CLE training session. To register, please contact Megan Malik: Megan.Malik@FaegreBD.com or 612-766-7202. 

Volunteer CORNER

CLC to Recognize our 2013 Graduates!

We have some rather remarkable news. As you know, foster youth can now stay in foster care up until age 21. CLC has 22 clients enrolled in the 18-21 extended foster care program who are turning 21 in 2013 and will permanently age out of the foster care system. We are thrilled to report that these 22 clients are beating the odds! 100% (22/22) of them have graduated from high school, 77% (17/21) are continuing their education in college or specialized training, and 95% (21/22) are currently employed! In comparison to national statistics on children who age out of foster care, that is incredible! Nationwide, only 46% of youth in foster care graduate from high school by the time they exit care (Click for source), only 10% go on to post-secondary education (Click for source), and only 51% of foster youth are employed when they age out of foster care. 
 
In addition to recognizing the incredible accomplishments of our clients who are turning 21, CLC would like to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our foster youth clients in 2013. If you are a CLC volunteer attorney, and your client is graduating from high school, college, or another type of job training program, we would like to recognize your client's accomplishments in our July 2013 Newsletter and on our CLC website. To recognize your client, please e-mail CLC Social Worker Weida Allen: wallen@clcmn.org, and include the name of your client and their accomplishment. Please be sure to check with you client for permission to publish their name.  
 

Practice POINT: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is a broad term that covers the continuum of physical, mental, and behavioral deficits observed among individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD) are conditions within the FASD “umbrella.” Some children with FASD have both physical and neurological abnormalities and others have severe cognitive and behavioral deficiencies without physical signs of disorder.  According to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, prenatal alcohol exposure may impact up to 70% of children in foster care. Many children are not properly diagnosed and instead are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.   A proper diagnosis is essential to provide a child with the most appropriate care.  It is important for attorneys to have a basic understanding of FASD to advocate appropriately for clients with FASD. Read MORE.

Update to the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Application Process for Foster Youth

Volunteer attorneys with clients looking at post-secondary education should review the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Education and Training Voucher (ETV) website for information about changes to the application process.  Beginning with the July 1, 2013 application deadline, applications will be completed online.  In addition to the July 1 and January 1 deadlines, there are now a set of flexible deadlines, with awards contingent on the availability of funds.  For more information about changes to the ETV program, visit http://mn.gov/dhs/, then click on People We Serve, Children and Families, Services, Adolescent Services, Education and Training Vouchers.  

Exciting NEW legislation!The Family Reunification Act of 2013

On May 1, 2013, Governor Dayton signed into law the Family Reunification Act of 2013.  This new law permits the reestablishment of the parent and child legal relationship for certain children who are under the guardianship of the Commissioner of Human Services.   The law is exciting for those children who have remained in foster care for significant periods of time without being adopted and wish to return to the care of their biological parents as well as for those parents who have been able to correct the problems that led to their initial termination of parental rights.  

The new law has several qualifiers.  Specifically, it provides that only the county attorney may file a petition for reunification.  Minn. Stat. §260C.329, subd. 3 (anticipated 2013).  Thus, terminated parents, children and guardian ad litems are unable to request reunification under the new law. Read MORE.

Summer Camp and Work Opportunities for Kids

To help you and a foster youth you know find a camp, we’ve listed those on our website that have at least partial scholarships available for children in need. Please call our CLC Social Worker, Rachel Ayoub, for additional information, or click HERE for a listing of camp and work opportunities posted on the CLC website.

Scholarship Opportunities and Financial Funding for Foster Youth

Foster youth who are continuing their education/ training in 2014 need to start looking into their funding options. Click HERE to learn more about scholarships and other financial funding for foster youth.
Copyright © 2013 Children's Law Center of Minnesota, All rights reserved.
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