|
 Talk to members
of our
Tennessee Youth Advisory Council (TYAC) and you’ll hear stories
of failed childhoods and parents unable or unwilling to raise their
children.
One young woman
was abandoned in the hospital at birth. Many youth were shuttled
from one foster home to another, living in dozens of places during
their childhood. Other children were abused or neglected by parents
before being placed in group homes.
What
distinguishes young people involved in Fostering Success’ advisory
council is they succeeded despite the incredible challenges of
growing-up in foster care; and they are working to improve the
entire foster care system so more foster youth can succeed.
Current and
former foster youth in the Youth Advisory Council are enrolled in
law school, applying to college and being promoted to better jobs.
Our Youth
Advisory Council provides foster youth with a voice in the
community, so they have opportunities to transition successfully to
adulthood and improve the system for other foster youth.
Oasis Center, a nonprofit agency serving Middle Tennessee teens
and their families since 1970, leads the advisory council. Located
in Nashville, Oasis Center is recognized as a national expert in
youth engagement and creating systems change through youth voice and
action.
With guidance
from adult staff, TYAC members identify and solve the critical
problems facing foster youth. TYAC’s priorities include:
-
Recruiting
and training outstanding foster parents who can provide
stability for youth and serve as caring adult mentors. For
example, current and former foster youth are paid trainers who
provide orientation for new foster parents at the Tennessee
Department of Children’s Services.
-
Making the
foster care system more youth-friendly, so that foster youth are
aware of available services and rights. For example, TYAC is
developing a Foster Youth Bill of Rights.
-
Reaching out
to foster youth through public high schools. A pilot program at
Metro Nashville High Schools engages foster youth in service
learning (volunteering) and provides them with information about
educational opportunities. TYAC members are tracking students’
progress to determine whether foster youth who volunteer are
more successful in school, as shown by national research.*
-
Increasing
educational opportunities for foster youth. For example, TYAC
members worked with Tennessee’s legislature and Governor Phil
Bredesen to institute the Governor’s Scholarship for Foster
Youth, and the
Foster Care Hope Scholarship, which provides financial assistance for college.
-
Influencing
public policy. TYAC members serve as members of the Tennessee
Commission on Children and Youth, Foster Parent Recruitment Team, Regional DCS
Implementation Teams, Department of Education Work Group and the
Tennessee Court Improvement Project.
-
Changing
public attitudes about foster care. TYAC members speak regularly
to the media and civic and business groups about the crisis in
foster care and possible solutions. Youth receive training to
prepare for media interviews and presentations.
*Service-learning
and resilience in disaffected youth: A research study - N Kraft,
J Wheeler - Advances in Service-Learning Research.
Foster Youth, find out more about Opportunity Passport.
Get
Involved Today! |
