Fostering Success Michigan Newsletter                   Volume    29            December 2014
Thank You
to Director Corrigan
Advice from Director Corrigan! Stay focused on what possible and say, "Yes and..." 

Director Maura Corrigan of the Michigan Department of Human Services will be retiring December 31st, 2014. We, at Fostering Success Michigan, would like to thank her for her dedicated service to children and families.

 

Throughout her career, Director Corrigan has displayed passion and dedication to increasing positive outcomes for young people in foster care, specifically by her efforts to increase college access and success for students from foster care.
 
Prior to serving as the Director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, Director Corrigan served on the Michigan Supreme Court for 19 years, serving as Chief Justice for four years. Additionally she was selected and served as the commissioner of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care.Director Corrigan's commitment has also earned her many awards including the Casey Family Programs Excellence in Leadership Award in 2013 and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Adoption Excellence Award in 2011.
 
Director Corrigan has inspired innovative changes in Michigan's child welfare system and been a beacon of social justice in our community. Her legacy will be one that we won't soon forget. 
 
Thank you, Director Corrigan! 
 
FSM Partner Spotlight: MYOI Pillow Effect

Youth participating in the Ingham County Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI) collaborated with the Michigan Education Trust Fund to launch the Ingham County MYOI's "Pillow Effect." Ingham County MYOI youth who have experience in foster care felt it was important for each child coming into care to have a comforting place to lay their head at night, regardless of their placement. 

From 2013-2014, with the help of Community Partners such as MET and The Lansing Derby Vixens, MYOI youth succeeded in collecting over 300 pillows and pillowcases to be provided to youth who come into care. As a result of this partnership and the outpouring support of the community, every youth who has come into foster care in Ingham County (ages 2 and up) has received their own brand new, standard size pillow and decorated pillowcase, with words of encouragement such as Have Faith, Shoot for the Stars, or Sweet Dreams. Over the past year, Ingham County MYOI has worked with the Capital Area United Way, United Postal Service, Auto Owners Insurance Agency, and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union to collaborate on designing pillowcases. 

For more information about how to participate in the "Pillow Effect" please contact Nichole Martin, Ingham County MYOI Coordinator at 517-515-8602 or via email at [email protected].

 
FSM Resource Spotlight: A Home for the Holidays
 
A Home for the Holidays is a campaign led by National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY),the National Center for Housing & Child Welfare (NCHCW), the National Network for Youth (NN4Y), and Covenant House that strives to create a solution for students who are homeless or from foster care who have no place to go during academic breaks. To get a better idea of how students with experience in foster care and/or homelessness experience academic breaks listen to Jennifer Guerra of Michigan Radio share the story of one of Eastern Michigan University's MAGIC students.

Want to learn how you can be part of the solution? Follow these steps and make a difference four our students:
  • Learn more about A Home for the Holidays campaign by viewing the flyer. The flyer outlines specific ways that communities can help make an impact and be part of the solution.
  • Be sure to spread the word about A Home for the Holidays with colleagues and friends to help raise awareness and get others involved. 
  • Lastly, what better way is there to spread the word than social media? Don't forget to use the #HomelessHolidayBreak hashtag when posting!
Policy Update: IMPROVING OUTCOMES THROUGH THE REASONABLE & PRUDENT PARENT STANDARD
 
The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 4980), signed into law on September 29, 2014, focuses on improving outcomes for youth with foster care experience by expanding opportunities to support healthy development and promote well-being.  The signing of this law highlights the importance of this issue as abundant research shows experience in the foster care system is linked to early pregnancy, incarceration, poor academic performance, and insufficient life skills. A lesser known and infrequently discussed connection exists between foster care and human trafficking. The circumstances of youth in foster care and obstacles faced by young adults transitioning out of the system often place them at greater risk of being targeted by traffickers. Understanding the intersection of foster are and trafficking can help lead to increased positive outcomes for young people in and from care. 
 
There are other intersections at play that may increase the likelihood of poor outcomes for young people in foster care. Expectant and parenting youth along with youth who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender who are in foster care are two groups who face higher risks of poor outcomes. The Center for the Study of Social Policy has created a guide to help ensure that these subgroups of youth who are in care have their needs met. Follow this link to learn more: Promoting Well-Being Through the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard: A Guide States Implementing the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 4980).   
Meet Wanda W. from "Words Matter: Student Voices from the FSM Network"
 

Wanda W. is fifteen years old and loves arts and crafts, particularly drawing and scrapbooking. Wanda also really enjoys listening to music. Currently one of her favorite songs to listen and dance to is "Selfie" because it speaks to her and she finds it quite hilarious. Humor seems to be a running theme for Wanda because as she thinks about who would be cast to play her if Hollywood ever made a movie about her life, she says that it should be "someone who has a good personality and is funny!" Wanda also hopes that the actress would be someone who could make something positive result from a negative situation.

 

  
Wanda focuses on her desires to go to college and to get a good job in order to keep herself motivated. Two of her current goals are to attend college and to be able to save up enough money for a car. Her dreams and self-determination are supported by her counselor, the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative, wrap around support, and foster care case managers. Wanda is looking forward to a bright future!

 

  

Did You Miss the Student Voice Video? Watch it now: Words Matter: Student Voices from the FSM Network.  
NASPA S&CIHE Sub-Community on Foster Care and Homelessness

NASPA and Socioeconomic and Class Issues in Higher Education (S&CIHE) Knowledge Community have announced a new sub-community- Students Who Experienced Foster Care or Homelessness Youth. The sub-community will be co-chaired by John Emerson of Casey Family Programs and Maddy Day of Center of Fostering Success at Western Michigan University. 
 
With ground work having been laid, the search is on for individuals who are passionate about working with and on behalf of students who have experienced foster care or homelessness. With this in mind, individuals are needed to fill the following positions:
  • Vice Chair(s)/Chair(s) Elect
  • Communications coordinator(s) (newsletters, blogs, email blasts, etc.)
  • Website coordinator(s) (in coordination with Jessa Carpenter, SCIHE's webmaster)
  • Recruitment/membership coordinator(s)
  • 2015 National Conference gathering coordinator(s)
  • Events and Calendar coordinator(s)
If you are interested in one of these leadership positions or want to more information, please see the announcement and the SCIHE Sub Community November 2014 Communication or contact John Emerson at [email protected] and Maddy Day at 
Important Information!

Both the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) and the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG) have new billing forms that must be used beginning in 2015. The old forms were only accepted through the fall semester of 2014. The new forms are available at the Michigan Student Aid Website.

Please contact Kathy Welch at [email protected] with any questions. 

CALL FOR WEBINAR PRESENTERS!

We currently have available openings for webinar presentations for each of our ongoing webinar series. If you have a topic or a research study that you are interested in presenting for either series, contact our webinar project coordinator, Karie Ward 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 is excited to be hosting Shantel Crosby, LMSW on January 20th, 2015 as she presents on Trauma Informed Teaching. Please be sure to visit the FSM website to register. 

On February 17th, as part of FSM Network webinar series, Elizabeth Bowker, a Michigan Licensed Attorney, from the Student Advocacy Center will present on What Middle School and High School Counselors and Educators "need to know" About Youth with Foster Care Experience. Stay tuned for more information about registration. 
Passionate and Inspirational


As we come to the close of the year, I reflect on how the FSM Network Partners have approached the needs of the students we serve. When I look at the great youth-led work of the Ingham County MYOI Pillow Effect and the ways our Colleges and Universities are stepping up to support our students who need housing over breaks, I am left with a sense of incredible passion and commitment that is driving this work.

As we celebrate the legacy Director Maura Corrigan leaves as she retires this month, I encourage you to reflect on how her work can inspire each of us to be leaders in our communities, to be advocates for our youth, and to act with passion in every project that we approach. I encourage you to share this message with the students in your communities, reminding them that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but they are leaders of today. Who better to recognize the needs of the students we serve than the students themselves?

As we move into the New Year, I hope you take the time to reflect on the unique strengths you bring to your work and let those strengths fuel your passion. I look forward to seeing your creative ideas, your #1ThingFSM, as you continue to serve our students and inspire the work of the FSM Network. Together we are creating the solution!

Take care, 
Maddy
Maddy Day, MSW
Director of Outreach and Training
Center for Fostering Success
Western Michigan University
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