It's National Foster Care Month!

May 2024

Welcome to National Foster Care Month! Each May our newsletters promote a better understanding of foster care and how it can impact a child's life, positively or negatively. Differences do matter - each kid is unique. For this National Foster Care Month, let's be leaders committed to ensuring that no child's foster care experience is adversely affected by their family's race or culture.

-Lance Jones, CASA Program Manager

In this month's newsletter:

Taking a closer look at child welfare
Highlighting our CASA volunteers and foster care alums
Showing appreciation for our partners
Upcoming opportunities

A Closer Look at Child Welfare

Over the last one hundred years, there have been significant strides in nurturing and supporting children in foster care, but gaps still remain. When the child welfare system does not include voices and values from a child's community, the results can negatively impact the child's future and overall wellbeing.

We need a thoughtful approach for all children to get the support they need to thrive with their foster parents and their birth parents.

This issue looks at historical and contemporary challenges in child welfare. We revisit the history of one Wisconsin woman's family with the Hayward Indian Boarding School, where Native American children removed from their families. Also featured is a TED Talk video with a bold proposal: to remove racial information from the decision whether safety requires removing a child from their home. Finally, we examine how language barriers and unexplored cultural differences impact Latinx children and the elders caring for them.

Walking In My Mother's Shoes

From the 1880s through the 1930s, the United States forced Native Americans to assimilate into society through efforts to erase Native American culture and family life.

During this period, Native American children were forcefully removed from their families and brought to boarding schools where they lived in harsh conditions and were banned from speaking their Native languages.

Jan Richter Lynn, a Native American copper artist, tells her mother's story at the Hayward Indian Boarding School in Sawyer County, WI.

Keep Reading

Taking Race Out of the Equation

Implicit racial biases influence the outcomes of children and families in the child welfare system.

Jessica Pryce, an experienced social worker and professor at Florida State University, talks about the impact of race and neighborhood in the foster care system.

Learn more by watching her TED Talk, "To Transform Child Welfare, Take Race Out of the Equation."

Watch the TED Talk Here

Supporting Latinx Youth and Families

Latinx children and families face a unique set of challenges as they navigate the child welfare system.

One key challenge is the difference in language and culture. Latinx children in grandfamilies are often raised by relatives who do not speak English or for whom English is a second language.

This language barrier, coupled with a lack of culture-specific knowledge on the part of child welfare service providers, leads to negative outcomes for Latinx children and grandfamilies.

To learn more, visit the link below to read Generations United's guide on Latinx children and kinship families.

Learn About Latinx Youth & Grandfamilies

Need CASA Continuing Ed Credits? Get Them Here!

You can read either of the articles above or watch the TED Talk for CASA continuing education credits! Just let your CASA volunteer supervisor know once you have watched or read any of the links above to be received for credit.

Is there a topic you'd like to learn more about? Let us know what continuing ed topics you'd like to see! Email your ideas to adam@kidsmatterinc.org.

Highlighting Our CASA Volunteers and Foster Youth Alums

Volunteer Spotlight: Mia Heredia

Meet KIDS MATTER CASA volunteer Mia! Mia helps youth in our community thrive by giving them a voice and standing up for their best interests in court.

Mia first heard about the KIDS MATTER CASA program through a friend who was a CASA volunteer alum. Mia's friend recognized her passion for serving kids and teens and recommended that she apply.

Outside of being a CASA volunteer, Mia teaches about anti-racism at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and advises students in student government.

She is also a full-time graduate student pursuing her second Master's degree, and was the UWM Student Association president for two terms. Currently, Mia is running for a State Assembly seat, taking her passion for serving her community to the state level.

We are so lucky to have you, Mia. Our kids and teens are so grateful to have you in their corner. Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of youth in our community!

Celebrating National Foster Care Day

Did you know that May 7th was National Foster Care Day?

Check out this inspiring message from Meg, a foster youth alum turned foster and adoptive parent and KIDS MATTER CASA volunteer, as she shares why she's wearing blue in honor of National Foster Care Day.

Click or tap on Meg's photo to view the full video!

Our Partners Make Such a Difference!

Sara Jo Dederich, a KIDS MATTER CASA volunteer alum, brought in school supplies and nightlights from our friends at Keller Williams Milwaukee!

Thank you, Sara, and the rest of the Keller Williams team for helping our foster and kinship kids prepare for school next year!

Sparkle, a former foster parent, dropped off clothing and books for our youth in foster and kinship care!

Many thanks to Sparkle for continuing to make a difference in the lives of foster and kinship kids!

Upcoming Opportunities

Youth Can Now Apply for Project Glimmer's Summer Empowerment Academy!

Project Glimmer's Summer Empowerment Academy is a 6-week leadership course focused on helping teens gain self-confidence, financial literacy, presentation skills, and set goals for the future.

At the end of the course, participants will also receive a $500 stipend for being part of this program.

The last day to apply is Friday, May 31st. Don't miss out!

Apply Today

Applications Are Now Open for the August 2024 MKE Peer Academy Peer Training!

Do you know someone who would be a great peer advocate? Share this opportunity with them!

The MKE Peer Academy is an opportunity for individuals with lived experience to guide others on their wellness journeys. This free training program empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become peer advocates and support others through shared experiences and mutual understanding.

Visit the link below to find out more about the MKE Peer Academy program and how to apply.

Learn More