100 Current And Former Foster Youth Receive National Honor For Personal Achievement And Service

May 11, 2010 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – One hundred young people who have experienced foster care were named the 2010 Outstanding Young Leaders in celebration of National Foster Care Month. These recipients from all across the U.S. were honored by FosterClub, the national network for young people in foster care, for their leadership, accomplishments, educational achievement, and community service.

“I feel that it is very important for those who have experienced foster care to fight for the needs of present or future youth in care. We are the ones that have seen first-hand what it is like to live in the system, to wake up every morning and not know if we will ever lay our heads on that same pillow again,” says Brianna Elliott, a 24-year-old Outstanding Young Leader from Iowa. “We need to come together as youth and support each other and take our lives into our own hands. I think that because we are the ones that are affected the most by the rules and laws that are passed that we should have some sort of say in what happens.”

Photographs and personal stories of each of the 100 Outstanding Young Leaders can be viewed on the FosterClub website at www.fosterclub.org.  The Young Leaders include:

•   19-year-old Robin Webster of Pennsylvania, who entered the system at the age of 15. She lived in a shelter, 2 foster homes, a residential living center and a kinship care placement while in care. In August Robin is heading to Romania for a year to teach English and work in an orphanage. She hopes to become an English teacher while being active in church activities.

•   22-year-old Ralph Hall, who was placed in foster care at the age of four. Ralph has served as Chairman of the Striving Black Brothers Coalition, and President of the Black Student Union at Chabot College. He has published two books of poetry and dedicates a lot of his time motivating youth in Oakland, letting them know that anything is possible. Recently Ralph lobbied in Sacramento on behalf of all who will be affected if THP+ and other child welfare cuts are implemented.

•   19-year-old Salmata Tarawally, who, along with her parents and siblings, escaped war torn Sierra Leone by moving to the United States. After their arrival, her parents left her and her siblings to fend for themselves, at which point Salmata entered the foster care system. Said a supportive adult about Salmata, “I am constantly amazed at Salmata's journey from Africa to America. Her and her sisters' resilience is astounding.”

•   19-year-old Derrius Quarles is a Psychology and Sociology double major with a triple minor in Public Health, Neuroscience, and Leadership Studies at Morehouse College. Derrius won more than $1.1 million in scholarships, including a full scholarship to attend college. His financial-aid accomplishments have earned him the title “Million Dollar Scholar.” He is the first in his family to attend a four-year institution.

“Despite the hardships and setbacks faced by these Outstanding Young Leaders, they have already achieved great personal success.  Just as important, these inspiring young people have committed themselves to making a difference for the children and youth still in foster care,” said Celeste Bodner, Executive Director of FosterClub. “They are tremendously effective mentors and role models, advocates and policy influencers.“

“Many youth feel the conviction to help their fellow peers in foster care because they want the experience to be better for those coming behind them,” said Chereese Phillips, a 24 year old Outstanding Young Leader from Pennsylvania. “Because foster care is such a unique experience, they have a shared bond and sense of camaraderie with others in similar circumstances. Channeling their desire to change the "system" into positive and constructive avenues is imperative and can result in better outcomes in child welfare.”

Foster care was designed as a temporary solution to remove children from abuse and neglect, but children often languish in foster care before returning to their families or joining new adoptive families or living permanently with relative caregivers. More troubling, 29,000 young people “age out” of foster care each year with no permanent family to rely upon. Research reveals that many youth who age out experience homelessness, unemployment, incarceration or illness – fewer than 3% of youth who age out graduate from college and nearly 1 in 5 become homeless.


HOW YOU CAN HELP

Support young people in foster care with a donation to FosterClub —  Text the word “foster” to 85944 to make a $10 donation to benefit young people in foster care  (charged to your cell phone bill). Visit www.fosterclub.org for more information or call FosterClub at 503-717-1552 to find more about supporting foster youth.

Cheer on young leaders in your own community  — Log on to www.fosterclub.org and visit the state-by-state pages to read real stories about young people in your area.  Discover groups of youth who are banding together to change the foster care system and offer your support.

Get involved in National Foster Care Month — Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the plight of hundreds of thousands of children and youth in the foster care system. Learn more at www.fostercaremonth.org.

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FosterClub is the national network for young people currently in, or who have experienced, the foster care system. Every 2 minutes, a child’s life changes as they enter foster care. For nearly half a million young people living in foster care across the nation, FosterClub is a place to turn for advice, information and hope. FosterClub’s website, publications, events and leadership programs offer the tools and resources these youth need to connect with one another, to share their experiences and insights, and to achieve personal success. www.fosterclub.org.

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the plight of hundreds of thousands of children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. www.fostercaremonth.org.