Fostering Success Michigan Newsletter                   Volume    26           September 2014
Words Matter: Student Voices from the FSM Network
Students are more than their foster care experience! They are passionate, intelligent, driven, and filled with strength! We asked the students we serve who they are and this is how they responded!

Words Matter:Student Voices from the FSM Network

Get to know a few of these students more in depth over the coming months as we share some of their stories in the FSM Newsletter. Also look for a photo album containing the pictures of the students who participated in the video on the stories page of the FSM website! 
Student Support = Success!!

In an effort to understand the scope our work in supporting students who have experienced foster care, we asked you about your work, and you answered!
 
33students from foster care graduated in the 2013 - 2014 school year*. This includes Spring and Summer 2014.
 
328students from foster care age 18-25 were supported by higher education campus support programs in the 2013 - 2014 school year.*

  

364students are estimated to be supported by higher education campus support programs in Fall 2014.*

   

We now have 12 campus support efforts for students from foster care in Michigan!

Interested in starting a campus support program at your institution? Contact Maddy Day at maddy.day@wmich.edu for more information. 

*Number includes students from programs that support students who experience homelessness, kinship care, guardianship, and other out of home placements.

Information collected from Baker Flint, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Michigan State University, Northwestern Michigan College, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Flint, and Western Michigan University




The above numbers reflect what is occurring here in Michigan, but what is occurring nationally? 

At the 2013 National Convening on October 22nd, individuals representing higher education institutions, child welfare, and both state and local organizations gathered in California to discuss challenges that young adults who have experienced foster care face in higher education. The National Convening sought to address 5 specific goals which resulted in 5 conditions the participants believed necessary for systematic change within higher education. To learn more about what occurred as well as potential solutions and recommendations to improve higher education outcomes for these students, click the links below. 

 
FSM Partner Spotlight:

Michigan's Children This Election Season

 

What is Michigan's Children?

Michigan's Children is a multi-issue advocacy organization that works to provide a voice for children in Michigan with regards to public policy. The organization strives to influence public policy that supports children and families from "cradle to career" and focuses on reducing economic disparities. 

 

Michigan's Children provides various resources to students who have experienced or are experiencing foster care. Since 1996, Michigan's Children has created opportunities for students to share their stories, concerns, and suggestions with policymakers directly. In 2014, Michigan's Children is co-hosting a series of youth-led candidate forums throughout Michigan. The goal of these forums is guarantee that the candidates hear about the current issues and concerns of young people throughout the state. Michigan's Children hopes to partner with local Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative groups throughout the state during these forums. With this in mind, Michele Corey, VP for Programs at Michigan's Children, indicated that the partnerships that include the voice of Michigan youth are the most invaluable partners as their stories and recommendations truly impact the direction of policy. 

  

Additionally, Michigan's Children is working to fund a paid internship and a paid fellowship for students who have experienced foster care. Through these positions, Michigan's Children would be better able to stay in contact and continue to communicate with young people. At the present time, Michigan's Children does not maintain continued connection with young people, but does with community leaders who have the ability to re-engage when the need arises. 

 

Michigan's Children Sandbox Party

A part of Michigan's Children is Michigan's Children Sandbox Party which is focusing on the 2014 campaign year and highlighting the key issues at stake for children and their families this campaign season. As part of this initiative, Michigan's Children Sandbox Party utilizes a blog to educate people and is focusing on four key issues. Please follow the links below to learn more!

Not only is the organization educating voters, but they are also asking for your opinion. What do you believe are the key issues impacting children, youth, and their families? You have the opportunity to share with Michigan's Children Sandbox Party by taking their survey. 

 

Get Out to Vote!

Michigan's Children Sandbox Party also encourages everyone to get out and vote by providing information about the voting process from registering to vote to becoming an informed voter. To learn more about registering to vote, becoming an informed voter, the voting day process, and even the reasons to vote, click here. 

 

Additionally, one of the biggest struggles voters face is knowing who the candidates are and what political views each holds. Michigan's Children Sandbox Party is willing and ready to help voters with this as well. On their website, they have linked to the League of Women Voters' Election Guide. The guide provides information on candidates, links to candidates' campaign websites, and much more. With this in mind, Michigan's Children Sandbox Party also provides blog readers with suggested questions pertaining to each of the key issues to ask candidates this election season. 


  

  

Absentee Voting

Many college students may not be aware that it is still possible to vote even if away at college on voting day. They are eligible to apply for an absentee ballot. For more information about requesting an absentee ballot, visit the Michigan Secretary of State Website.

  

Why Vote?

Many people find voting to be time consuming or an inconvenience, but fortunately there are several good reasons to get out and vote. Voting is linked to social ties, greater health, positive mental health, well-being and life satisfaction. To gain more insight into why you should vote, follow the link below.

  

 
FSM Website Resource Spotlight:

Top 10 Reasons to Get Involved With Clubs and Orgs on Campus

By The Buzzing4Change
Foundation

There are plenty of clubs and organizations that provide students with opportunities to get involved on campus. The big question is, why should students get involved? The Buzzing4Change Foundation has provided college students with the Top 10 Reasons to Get Involved With Clubs and Orgs. on Campus. However, just as it is important for college students to get involved, as high school students begin to plan for their future, it is just as important for them to be involved in school activities. Buzzing4Change provides the following reasons:
  • Extra Curricular 
  • Networking
  • Promote Awareness
  • Assistance
  • Volunteer
  • Brotherhood/Sisterhood
  • Enrichment
  • Exposure
  • Growth
  • Social
As we transition into a new school year with a new beginning, let's encourage our students to get involved as they plan for college and future careers!
Have You Read Brittany's Blog: Straight Talk by a Scholar from Foster Care?
 
Almost one year ago, FSM began featuring Brittany's editorials about the topics that affect her every day life as a young adult with experience in foster care. We would love to share your feedback with her, as well as get a sense of topics you would like to see covered in future blog entries!

Please click here to take this quick 3-minute survey and here to read Brittany's Blog!
Mark Your Calendars:
MET Fostering Futures Benefit
 
In 2013, the Michigan Education Trust (MET), the Department of Treasury, and the Department of Human Services partnered together to host the MET Fostering Futures Benefit. $187,000 was raised with all proceeds going to assist Michigan students who have experienced foster care.

Mark your calendars! This year the MET Fostering Futures Benefit is being held Thursday, September 25th from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan. Register on line by clicking here or by completing this form. Let's partner together and help surpass the $187,000 raised last year!

FSM 2014 Regional Network Meetings,
Upcoming CFS Webinars, and 
FSM Webinars

Regional Network Meetings
 
All FSM Regional Network Meetings will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with light refreshments and parking provided. Stay tuned for additional information. 
  • Northeast Region- Thursday, September 18th at University of Michigan- Flint
  • Central Region- Thursday, October 2nd at Lansing Community College 
  • Southeast Region- Thursday, October 30th at the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
  • Southwest Region- Thursday, November 6th at Western Michigan University
Center for Fostering Success "Best Practice, Best Fit" Webinar Series 
Fostering Success Michigan Network Webinar Series 
  • October 21st, 2014 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.-
  • February, 2015- "Mental Health" by Michael Peno, MA Candidate 2016
  • April, 2015- "How to Use Social Media to Your Advantage" by Lorraine McKnight, MA, LPC-S
Words Matter


As we transition into the 2014-2015 school Fostering Success Michigan hopes to remind you of WHY we do this work. We do this work because our students have dreams and, with connections to a diverse network, they will reach them. Building the education to career pipeline takes time and a commitment to making and maintaining connections. We are so proud of the work you do and thrilled to share that IT IS WORKING! Over the last year we have seen an increase in the number of campus-based support programs and an increase of students who have experienced foster care graduating with high quality degrees and credentials.

We celebrate the success of the Fostering Success Michigan Network, which means we celebrate YOU.

To keep those connections going we are once again co-hosting the FSM Regional Network Meetings with 4 campus-based support programs across the State. We hope you come out to share your resources, connect with partners and bring a new partner to learn about the role they play in helping our students succeed. We also encourage you to share the resources we have provided in this newsletter with your students; reminding our students that they can make a difference in their community is so important!

The voices of the young people we serve are powerful, which is why we produced, "Words Matter: Student Voices from the FSM Network". Inspired by a FSM Network partner, the signs each student holds reminds us that our students are talented and strong. When you have those days of wondering WHY, we hope this video reminds you how important you are in the lives of our students.

As always, thank you for your continued commitment to partnership and collaboration. FSM will continue to bring you resources to support your work, ideas to inspire you, and hope that together we all remain committed to our #1ThingFSM!

I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming FSM Regional Network Meetings!

Take care, 
Maddy
Maddy Day, MSW
Director of Outreach and Training
Center for Fostering Success
Cell: 269-568-9142
maddy.day@wmich.edu
 CFS Orange W FSM logo
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