Regratifying Foundation

08/25/2021

How Daisy Gonzales went from foster care to the top of the nation’s largest system of higher education

Daisy Gonzales is a remarkable woman. She entered foster care at age 2, left foster care at 17, enrolled in college at 18, had 3 jobs during school, and earned a Ph.D. Now she is California's new acting community colleges chancellor. Amazing! “I survived many different systems that were not built to help me succeed, from foster care to being an English-language learner to being a first-generation college student." #FosterYouthSuccess #fostercare #fosteryouth

California's new acting chancellor is optimistic for the future of the community colleges despite the coronavirus pandemic and enrollment losses.

08/20/2021

Foster kids move around often, which affects their social skills and ability to create and maintain friendships. As a result, isolation becomes part of their lives. Consider ways that you can support foster kids in your community. #fostercare #fosteryouth

Foster kids move around often, which affects their social skills and ability to create and maintain friendships. As a result, isolation becomes part of their lives. Consider ways that you can support foster kids in your community. #fostercare #fosteryouth

08/13/2021

Normalcy for children in foster care helps heal trauma

"Kids in foster care can feel disconnected from other kids their age because of what they're going through, so it's important to help them experience as much normalcy as possible." This will help them be successful in school, jobs, friendships, and their future well-being. #fostercare #fosteryouth #education #goals

Swimming, attending camp, and participating in sports are something that many youngsters in the foster system miss. Many do not get the chance to experience these sorts of summertime activities. Being removed from their home and placed in the child welfare system because their family is in crisis, t...

07/28/2021

Many of us are fortunate to have family vacations during the summer. However, there are many youth in foster care who don't get the opportunity to experience a vacation. Let's work together to help foster youth be successful during and after foster care so they can take many vacations in the future. #fostercare #fosteryouth #vacation

Many of us are fortunate to have family vacations during the summer. However, there are many youth in foster care who don't get the opportunity to experience a vacation. Let's work together to help foster youth be successful during and after foster care so they can take many vacations in the future. #fostercare #fosteryouth #vacation

07/04/2021

Happy 4th of July! America is a wonderful country filled with opportunities. However, many in foster care lack access to many of these opportunities due to the disruptions in their lives. Together, as a community, we can change that! #fostercare #fosteryouth #4thofJuly #USA

Happy 4th of July! America is a wonderful country filled with opportunities. However, many in foster care lack access to many of these opportunities due to the disruptions in their lives. Together, as a community, we can change that! #fostercare #fosteryouth #4thofJuly #USA

06/20/2021

Please don't forget about the 400,000+ children and youth in the United States foster care system. You can make a difference in a child's life by supporting the foster kids in your community.

Please don't forget about the 400,000+ children and youth in the United States foster care system. You can make a difference in a child's life by supporting the foster kids in your community.

05/11/2021

We must not forget about all the children and youth in #fostercare in Virginia and throughout the country.

We must not forget about all the children and youth in #fostercare in Virginia and throughout the country.

02/23/2021

I’m really excited to share with you our new website for our NOW Program. Our new website will list jobs from businesses who want to hire foster youth. These jobs will help foster youths' long-term goal of building confidence, skills development, improving social skills and a path to independence. If you know of any businesses throughout Northern Virginia who are hiring, please tell them about our job board. Together, we can help foster youth to be successful now and in the future.

https://www.now-program.com/

I’m really excited to share with you our new website for our NOW Program. Our new website will list jobs from businesses who want to hire foster youth. These jobs will help foster youths' long-term goal of building confidence, skills development, improving social skills and a path to independence. If you know of any businesses throughout Northern Virginia who are hiring, please tell them about our job board. Together, we can help foster youth to be successful now and in the future.

https://www.now-program.com/

05/22/2020

Sia confirms she adopted two teenage sons that were 'aging out of the foster care system'

Sia is amazing. More people need to adopt youth who are aging out of the system, so they could have a forever family and support system.

In an interview with SiriusXM, the typically private singer Sia, 44, confirmed she adopted two children last year that were aging out of foster care.

05/12/2020

This is why current and former foster youth need everyone's support.

05/04/2020

May is Foster Care Awareness Month and we want you to think about the 400,000+ children and youth in the foster care system. These vulnerable children and youth are often forgotten and not paid attention to from society. Every month should be Foster Care Awareness Month because these kids always need our support - yours and ours. Without our support, it will be difficult for them to have a successful future.

04/16/2020

Janet Kelly column: COVID-19 does affect kids

Most foster children will not suffer the dire health effects of the Coronavirus, but too many of them will become secondary victims. While social isolation is critical to preventing the virus’ spread, it can have devastating effects on vulnerable children and families. Kids with high incidences of adverse childhood experiences are challenging to care for in normal circumstances. Add in canceled therapy appointments, no respite help from babysitters or family members, along with working and schooling from home, and foster families are suddenly at a breaking point.

“Can you help?” the social worker asked. “We have a kid with nowhere to go. I’m worried she might run away. She knows we don’t have any good foster family

04/15/2020

Pandemic hits young adults who left foster care without families hard | Opinion

Timothy Dennis, a former foster care youth, talks about his current situation and advocates for current foster youth. Since he's been at home for the quarantine his depression has gotten worse. He says that "young people who have exited foster care need someone they can call to ask for help, and they need someone checking in with them to see if they are OK." Looking into the future, he wonders whether he'll be able to go back to school again in the fall.

Congress should increase support for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, which provides flexible funding to meet youths' needs.

03/03/2020

From Foster Care to Being Homeless to Owning a Hair Care Brand Worth $2M | Dallas Weekly

Amazing success story! Jerricha Hoskins, the founder and CEO of one of the fastest-growing Black-owned hair care brands, Arcani Coil Care, used to be in foster care and lived in homeless shelters. But with determination and the right formula, she has created an empire worth $2 million within just 2 years!

Jerricha Hoskins, the founder and CEO of one of the fastest-growing Black-owned hair care brands, Arcani Coil Care, used to be in foster care and live in homeless shelters. But with determination and

02/05/2020

High school suspensions, multiple schools affect foster youth as they enter college

Foster students who are suspended from school or attend multiple high schools are more likely to struggle in college, according to a new report. “If you move the student or transfer them many times, it affects their downstream success.”

New research finds these students had lower grade point averages than their peers because of barriers they faced in high school.

01/15/2020

Last Saturday, our foster youth had the opportunity to job shadow at Seasons 52. They had a great time learning about the restaurant industry and the different job opportunities. Our youth shadowed the staff and got hands on experience in the kitchen - check out the pics. Thank you so much Seasons 52 for giving our youth this great opportunity.

12/04/2019

We love our job! Last week, we received a wonderful email from one of our foster youth:

......that is my goal. I will let you know once I achieve this!

Thank you for taking the time to take me to the Air Force today. It has made things seem much more doable now. Having so many options is so great, but it was starting to seem stressful for me. I have emailed the Captain and I will be sure to keep in touch with her.

Have a great Thanksgiving! Very thankful for having you to guide me through this confusing period.

10/24/2019

Regratifying Foundation

09/09/2019

Last month, our youth had an amazing time at our outdoor team building activity. Even though it was hot and humid, they worked very hard as a team and worked on their communication and problem solving skills.

08/02/2019

State agencies need more foster families for teenagers

With over 13,000 children in foster care in Tennessee and Virginia, finding homes for our area's most vulnerable children is already challenging enough. But state agencies have an even more difficult time finding home for teenagers entering the system. While 95 percent of children under the age of 12 are placed with foster families, only 58 percent of teens are placed with foster families, according to data from the National Foster Youth Institute in 2017.

"I know that when people think about foster care they think to themselves 'I'd like to get a baby,'" Paulson said. "We really need people to step up and say 'I can love on a 14-year-old."

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. --- With over 13,000 children in foster care in Tennessee and Virginia, finding homes for our area's most vulnerable children is already challenging enough. But state agencies have an even more difficult time finding home for teenagers entering the system. While 95 percent of chi...

07/02/2019

Great Expectations students beat the odds at college

Great Expectations is a great program that helps foster youth transition smoothly into community college. We work with Great Expectations on a regular basis to make sure our foster youth are successful at Northern Virginia Community College.

ABINGDON, Va. — As a former foster child, MaKenzie Helton knows what it’s like to have the odds stacked against her.

07/01/2019

Family trauma increases likeliness of youth homelessness

Each year, more than 4 million young people in the U.S. experience some form of homelessness. A new report states that housing instability starts when they're young, and under specific conditions -such as earlier disruptions of home and stability due to family conflict or entering foster care (44% identified their entrance into foster care as the beginning of their housing instability).

Each year, more than four million young people in the United States experience some form of homelessness. Identifying exactly when and why that happens could open the door to better solutions.

06/25/2019

Last night, the City of Alexandria and Arlington County's Child Welfare Services presented our Founder and CEO/President an award for his support for foster care youth at their Annual Graduation and Awards Dinner. 👍

06/07/2019

#GoodNewsRUHLES: Lawmakers focus on foster youth

👍 Lawmakers in the nation’s capital are working together this week to help some of the most vulnerable people in our country – children living in foster care. Watch Congresswoman Karen Bass and Racquell Perry, who spent a significant amount of her childhood and teen years in the system, join Stephanie Ruhle to share how Congress and young Americans are working together to improve the child welfare system.

Lawmakers in the nation’s capital are working together this week to help some of the most vulnerable people in our country – children living in foster care. Watch Congresswoman Karen Bass and Racquell Perry, who spent a significant amount of her childhood and teen years in the system, join Steph...

05/21/2019

‘Sesame Street’ welcomes a Muppet in foster care, the latest addition to its inclusive cast

❤️

Karli was introduced online as part of an initiative to provide free resources to caregivers navigating difficult issues.

05/07/2019

FOSTER (2019) | Official Trailer | HBO

Tonight on HBO at 8pm ET - Foster. From Oscar-winners Deborah Oppenheimer and Mark Jonathan Harris, FOSTER interweaves compelling first-hand stories of those navigating the child welfare system with insights from social workers, advocates, and others in the justice system to offer a realistic but hopeful perspective on a community in need of support and understanding.

From Oscar-winners Deborah Oppenheimer and Mark Jonathan Harris, FOSTER interweaves compelling first-hand stories of those navigating the child welfare syste...

05/06/2019

One child, 13 schools: how the foster system disrupts schooling

Foster Care Awareness Month: Continuously switching schools is just one of the challenges facing some youth in foster care. Growing up, Dylan Puckett estimates he went to more than 13 different schools. As a foster child, he regularly moved to new placements, and with new homes came new schools. “I was always pretty hesitant to actually reach out and make a lot of friends because I knew I’d always move,” said Puckett.

A recent Indiana report found that only 64 percent of students in foster care graduate from high school.

05/03/2019

Judge tells former foster child he'd see her in handcuffs. She's about to get a master's degree.

Foster Care Awareness Month: Lisa Koykar truely has defied the odds. She left the foster system at the age of 18 and since has gotten married, had three children and is about to graduate with a master's in nursing. However, at 18 a judge told her "...he would see me back in his courtroom in handcuffs." We're glad she proved him wrong...way to go Lisa!

Lisa Koykar truely has defied the odds. She left the foster system at the age of 18 and since has gotten married, had three children and is about to graduate with a master's in nursing.

05/02/2019

Former foster care youth graduation rates are low - The Daily Texan

#fostercareawarenessmonth Foster care youth challenges in college: A former foster student at UT, who asked to remain anonymous, said lacking family support is one of the biggest challenges they face in college.“You might not realize it, but you rely on your parents for a lot. I have to figure out the loan process by myself, and you can’t get an apartment because you don’t have a parent to act as your insuree."

The National Factsheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care indicated 70 to 84% of foster youth in 2014 wanted to go to college and 31.8 to 45.35% attended.

05/01/2019

It's Foster Care Awareness Month.

Support the Children and Youth in Foster Care in Your Community.

03/27/2019

We were delighted to attend the launch of Virginia Fosters today. We heard some amazing stories from former foster youth and saw the Governor of Virginia sign bills to improve foster care.

03/20/2019

We are super excited to share with you this marketing project that our foster youth worked really hard on during January and February of this year. They created this promotional ad for Maid Brigade of Loudoun & Western Fairfax Counties. This project gave participants job experience, which they can now add to their resume/job application. The project gave each of the youth the opportunity to obtain skills in marketing, market research, communication, public speaking, creative thinking, and teamwork.

01/28/2019

NextUp offers services for foster youth going to Bakersfield College

Thanks Bakersfield College for supporting foster youth, so they could get a college education. They help foster youth with priority registration, meals, books, school supplies, child care, ride assistance, counseling, education planning, emergency housing assistance and food assistance and emotional support.

Bakersfield College is currently offering a program for foster youth called NextUp and is welcoming students to stop by the second floor of the CSS Building. This new program started up last August and has been ready and fully-equipped to help out foster youth in need. NextUp, also known as Cooperat...

11/27/2018

Support foster care youth on #GivingTuesday. Help us add 25 more youth into our program next year. Together, we can help empower foster youth to be successful after foster care. Donate today and Facebook and Paypal will match your donation!