What's happening?
Looking for Idea People! Join a group of youth and adult partners to talk about how to best support students from foster care attending UMO. The gathering will be on Wednesday, February 22, from 5:30-7:30 pm in Room 102 of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.
If you have any questions, contact BJ Kitchin at robert.kitchinjr@maine.edu or 207-659-4219.
On December 9, 2011 youth came together in Southern ME to celebrate the end of the semester and receive care packages. Youth enjoyed each other’s company and good food. It was a great time!
Items in the care packages included gift cards, chocolates, socks, whoopee pies and more! Many thanks to the donators from the York County Foster Care Collaborative.
The idea was created by the youth and passed on to a community volunteer who plans on expanding and sustaining the effort. All college students need to know that someone cares – and care packages show that!
Community Care Program Continues!
With seed funding from the Creative Opportunities Grant, the "We Care Initiative" is underway! The "We Care initiative" will support older foster care youth to assemble and distribute care packages for other youth in care who are in need of critical items – for college, an apartment, or just in need of feeling supported.
The first care packages were delivered to 25 youth attending college in southern Maine in 2011 (see previous story). This idea was created by former youth in care with the goal of helping foster care youth in York and Cumberland Counties know that someone who has actually “been there” is thinking about them. Great idea!
If you want to get involved or donate items or funds, please contact Janalee Moquin at janaleemoquin8@yahoo.com or 207-351-1988.
Creative Opportunities Grant winners announced!
Congratulations to the people and organizations who were awarded this year's Creative Opportunities Grant! Youth and adult partners selected five proposals this year to receive funding totaling $9,200. The winning projects include:
* Adventure trips through an agency called "Squeaky Wheels" in Maine.
* An employment training program for youth in care from the Passamaquoddy tribe.
* A high quality video highlighting YLAT for the web and for outreach.
* A project providing care packages for youth in care in Southern Maine.
* An anti-violence campaign in Central Maine at Cony High School through the Civil Rights Team.
Click here for more information about this year's winners and here to learn about next year's Creative Opportunities Grant.
The sixth annual Festival of "Fostering" Trees took place December 2 - 4, 2011 and was a great success. 140 trees and other items were raffled off to raise funds to support youth in the Southern Maine foster care system. The festival raised over $7,800!
YLAT member, Torry Bernard, was interviewed by Channel 8 news. Watch it here!
Archive:
2011
Click HERE for What's happening? stories from January - November 2011
2010
Click HERE for What's happening? stories from 2010