|
Fostering Success Michigan Newsletter Volume 33 May 2015
|
Fostering Success Michigan's 4th Annual Statewide Summit is Just Around the Corner!
A Look Inside FSM's 4th Annual Statewide Summit!
The FSM 4th Annual Statewide Summit will offer networking and educational opportunities all designed and facilitated by the FSM Summit Student Advisory Board! This will be a wonderful opportunity for all involved whether they be students, professionals, or supportive adults.
Over the past few months we have been providing you with a plethora of information regarding Summit. Now that it is upon us, all we ask is that you bring your knowledge and come prepared with your wonderful networking skills so that we continue to grow the FSM Network of support for students who have experienced foster care.
For further information on the FSM 4th Annual Statewide Summit, click here. From Forest Road follow the signs for University Club parking; it will be the third entrance on your right. To view a map, please click here.
|
FSM 4th Annual Statewide Summit:
Students Don't Forget to Stay Until the End for Your Chance to Win! 
Calling all students! You are going to want to stay until the end of the summit, and here is why...The Turn 2 Foundation has generously donated an autographed photograph of Derek Jeter in his last MLB game!! This photo, personally signed by Derek Jeter, comes with a certificate of authenticity and is valued at over $600. The autographed photo will be raffled off to one very lucky student attendee at the end of the day, so be sure to make plans to stay to the end!
We will also be raffling off a Dell Venue 8 Pro Tablet and a $100 Amazon gift card!
|
MSU FAME to Host a Pre-Summit Event!
 We are excited to announce that MSU FAME will be hosting a pre-summit event on May 21st, 2015. At 5:00 pm FAME would like to invite you to meet at "The Rock" on MSU's campus and join them in making their marks by painting the rock in honor of National Foster Care Month. Parking for this event will be available in the
lot in front of the international center or metered spots near alumni memorial chapel. Click here
for more details on parking.
Following the painting, join MSU FAME and Ingham County MYOI students as they continue the festivities from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Spartan Lanes with food and bowling. Free parking will be available after 6:00 pm in the Union ramp. Click here for more details on location and parking.
|
FSM 4th Ann
ual Statewide Summit:
Fostering Success Coach Training Pre-Conference
This year FSM Summit is partnering to offer a pre-conference training opportunity. The
Fostering Succe
ss Coach Training: Level I,
is a
n opportunity for professionals to engage in a 3-day CE
U app
roved training aimed to increase skills in working directly with young adults who have
experienced foster care.
To take part in this wonderful opportunity to
enhance your skill set,
|
4th Annual FSM Statewide Summit:
#MakeYourMarkFSM!
We want YOU to participate in the student-led #MakeYourMarkFSM social media campaign!
This year's FSM Summit theme was developed by the FSM Summit Student Advisory Board who wanted to encourage every member of the FSM Network to make a positive mark in the education to career pipeline for students who have experienced foster care.
The FSM Student Advisory Board is using social media to highlight the marks being made and inspire others to make their mark.
Join us by posting and tweeting your #MakeYourMarkFSM selfie! Simply write down the mark you are making as we work together to support young people who have experienced time in foster care, take a selfie, then, post your photo to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with the hashtags #MakeYourMarkFSM and #PhotoChallengeFSM. Don't forget to tag @FSMichigan!
Encourage others to participate by tagging
them to take the photo challenge! Please like, favorite, and re-share posts as you see them to recognize the marks that your peers and colleagues are making!
|
Collaboration Results in Fostering Futures Trust Fund!
On January 14, 2015, Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder, signed House Bill 5444 into law. Through a collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Treasury, the Fostering Futures Trust Fund Act was sponsored by state Sen. Peter MacGregor and ensures that there will be permanent financial assistance through higher education scholarships for eligible youth with experience in foster care. The Fostering Futures Scholarships will be awarded through the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund overseen by the Student Scholarships and Grants office in the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Unlike other funding streams and scholarship for students with experience in foster care, the Fostering Futures Scholarships does not have a maximum age ceiling. Rather, the only requirements are that students must have been in foster care after their 13th birthday, have unmet financial need during their undergraduate studies, and are attending a public or private Michigan postsecondary institution. This extends financial support to many students with experience in foster care who may be returning to pursue their undergraduate degree at a later point in life. Additionally the Fostering Futures Scholarships can then be used for not only tuition and books, but also room and board.
We at Fostering Success Michigan would like to say an enthusiastic THANK YOU to Governor Rick Snyder, Senator Peter MacGregor, former Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan and all of our partners who helped to pass this bill. The Fostering Futures Scholarship Act marks a significant step toward increasing college access and success for our students with experience in foster care as they pursue their postsecondary education goals.
To learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship, please visit the FSM website.
|
FSM Resource Spotlight: National Foster Care Month Webinar Series: Achieving Permanency
Partnering with the Child Welfare Information Gateway and Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative, the Children's Bureau presents the 2015 National Foster Care Month Webinar Series.
This year, there are two webinars scheduled as part of National Foster Care Month. Information on both can be found below.
Just like all youth in care, youth identifying as LGBTQ need a loving and caring family as well as supports and services. This webinar will focus on how to support LGBTQ youth, helping them to achieve permanency, and find a sense of community. Additionally, participants will gain information about what agencies, staff, and families can do to better support these young people in care.
- Successes and Challenges of Transitioning Youth From Congregate Care
Children and youth who spend time living in congregate care, spend an average of 6 months longer in care than those children and youth who do not. This webinar highlights two providers who provide services to young people in congregate care, but do so from a permanency-driven model. This model has helped in engaging caregivers and aiding in the transition from congregate care to long term permanency.
Visit the FSM webpage to learn more about both of these webinars and how to register!
Don't forget to spread the word about this year's National Foster Care Month via Twitter, Facebook, Emails, and More. See how!
|
FSM Partner Spotlight: Child Safe Michigan Mentoring Program
Since 2006, the Child Safe Michigan Mentoring Program as been pairing youth with a mentor in this community-based mentoring program. The program concentrates its efforts on youth ages 7-23. By participating in the program, mentors and mentees participate in
activities centered-around education, career exploration, life skills development, as well as attend sporting, entertainment, and cultural events. The relationship developed between the youth and his/her mentor leads to increased self-esteem, improved social skills, additional opportunities for success in life, and an improved outlook on the future for the youth.
Learn more about Child Safe Michigan Mentoring Program by visiting the FSM website!
|
Michigan Teen Conference
Save the date! The 2015 Michigan Teen Conference will be held June 17-18 at Saginaw Valley State University.The conference will focus on transitioning out of foster care, helping to prepare youth for this transition and to provide young people with the knowledge of available resources. To learn more, visit The Michigan Federation for Children and Families'
website
and see the attached
flyer
.
|
|
2nd Annual MYOI Outdoor Education
Sept. 1 through Sept. 3, 2015, the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI) of Marquette County is hosting the 2nd Annual MYOI Outdoor Education Camp at the Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay. The camp is open to all youth ages 14-21 who are eligible for Youth in Transition funding.
The focus of this year's camp is "Building the Bridges to Independence." Participants will be provided activities and information that will support their independent living goals and pursuits of higher education as they transition to adulthood.
For additional information, please see the brochure. Registration will begin April 1, 2015. There is no cost to attend but registration will be limited. Don't delay. Get your youth signed up right away!
|
Training Opportuntiy: Increasing College Outcomes for Foster Youth - 2015 
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is partnering with the Department of Human Services and Fostering Success Michigan to host four regional trainings across Michigan. These trainings will cover Michigan Education and Training Voucher Program (ETV), updated education policy for children and youth in care, impact of campus based support programs, and various college resources for Foster Youth. See below for the remaining trainings:
- Tuesday, May 19th- Lansing, MI
- Friday, June 12- Mackinaw City, MI
For more detailed information, please see the attached flyer. To register, please visit JJOLT In-Service Training and search Increasing College Outcomes for Foster Youth - 2015.
With questions Please contact Tanya Maki at 1-877-660-6388 or email at [email protected].
|
Fostering Success Michigan Network Webinar Series
This series is focused on providing students, partners, and supportive adults relevant resources related to the needs of students with experience in foster care.
Center for Fostering Success "Best Practice, Best Fit" Webinar Series
This research-based series focuses on providing helping professionals, students, and supportive adults discovery-driven solutions related to educational attainment for students from foster care.
Upcoming Webinar Reminders
The Center for Fostering Success will be hosting Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, CT as she presents on May 12th, 2015 on Writing My Success Story: Young Adults' Experiences of the Pursuit of Higher Education. To find out more and to register, be sure to visit the FSM website.
|
Make Your Mark FSM! 
Fostering Success Michigan's 4th Annual Statewide Summit is only two weeks away! This year's summit is very much student led. We have collaborated with the FSM Summit Student Advisory Board, seeking to know what will serve students best. This opportunity has helped to develop their leadership skills and increased our awareness of what is most needed from the vantage point of their experiences in foster care.
When we think about students who experience foster care, often we think, what can we do to provide support or how do we make things better? These are important questions, but the key is listening to our students when they give us the answers. Hearing our students and partnering with them to put those words into action will help make our work together more fruitful for all involved.
As I think of how we have collaborated with students on the Fostering Success Michigan's 4th Annual Statewide Summit, I am reminded of how much our students can accomplished when they feel empowered to lead. The FSM Summit Student Advisory Board stepped into a role where they took on leadership roles and were empowered to create change and make their mark. So to Gabriella, Lori, Sam, Amber, Tamara and Brittany, I say THANK YOU for leading the way for all of us in the FSM Network to
#MakeYourMarkFSM!
The question I have for you is, how will you support the students in your community to feel empowered to become leaders in their own right? Will you connect your students to a mentor who will help to teach and guide them in ways that will foster leadership and life skills? Will you inform them of available resources that will help them in obtaining a college degree? The more supports we have in place and the more our students feel empowered to make their own mark, the more likely they are to succeed in the future. This is the work that we choose everyday and I personally count myself fortunate to be a part of this great work!
Take care,
Director of Outreach and Training
Center for Fostering Success
Western Michigan University
|
 |
|
STAY CONNECTED
|
|
|
|
|
