| Volunteer Timesheet Who We Are
We represent the statewide chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, a national organization which was established with the support of Casey Family Programs to connect alumni and transform the child welfare system.
Our chapter is comprised of a group of foster care
alumni and our
allies who live in Ohio.
Check out our COLOR-CODED MAP that illustrates foster care youth and alumni communities throughout the state!
If you ever lived in foster care, including staying with relatives, guardians, group homes and/or residential placements, you can join FCAA. If you did not experience foster care but believe in our mission, you (or your organization) can join, too!
Visit our BLOG to celebrate the dreams and aspirations of young people in and from foster care in our state.
Advocacy and Mentorship
LEVELS OF TRANSFORMATION: Through advocacy, people who grew up in the foster care system are able to translate their insights from first-hand experience into positive changes in the local, statewide and even national foster care system.
Foster care alumni can accomplish more together than we can alone. A collective voice is more difficult to silence. By sharing initiatives throughout the nation, we avoid having to re-create the wheel each time we want to change a particular child welfare policy.
During the week of Thanksgiving in 2007, former foster children from all over the nation told Congress about the need for federal financing reform.
LEVELS OF CONNECTION: Membership in Foster Care Alumni of America connects people in and from the foster care system with a lifelong community, linking them with national resources and mentorship opportunities.
Foster care alumni share the same parent: the state. During our time in foster care, while we moved from one place to another, we weren't always able to build long-term emotional connections.
Approximately 1,000 young people age out of the Ohio foster care system each year. They deserve to be supported on their journey to adulthood.
In the same way that older siblings might provide encouragement and guidance, older foster care alumni have much to share with our 'younger siblings,' including a passion to support their dreams and goals.
Meet Our Officers
Rather than being led by one president, our chapter is led by two chairs. This is because we believe that a collective voice is vitally important in all aspects of our organization.
The majority of our officers are former foster care children:
1.) Communications Chair: Lisa Dickson is a writer, blogger and online journalist. Lisa serves as lead spokesperson for the chapter in terms of outreach and policy. She oversees chapter communications, including newsletters and website development. She maintains chapter records, such as the membership roster and volunteer hours.
2.) Operations Chair: Doris Edelman is serving as interim Operations Chair. She ensures chapter compliance to national policies and procedures, and takes charge of finance projects such as fund-raising, and annual projects like the FCAA Family reunion.
3.) Legislative Liaison: Alexander McFarland stays informed about foster care news and advocacy areas in Ohio, and works with OACCA to help devise advocacy strategy. He schedules legislative visits and coordinates public testimony as needed.
4.) Youth Outreach Coordinator: Bethany Koshinsky reachs out to the alumni of tomorrow, enlisting youth insight in order to influence the Ohio chapter's priorities and strategies. Her workshop experience includes equipping teenagers in group homes and residential experiences with the life skills and resources to navigate young adulthood.
5.) Adoption Liaison: Amanda Dunlap is in charge of resource development and advocacy efforts having to do with adoptees. This includes ongoing collaboration with NACAC, American Adoption Congress and Adoption Network Cleveland regarding sibling visitation, adjustment to adoptive families, and birth certificate access.
6.) Media Spokesperson: Adrian McLemore represents the Ohio chapter to the local media. He is responsible to be prepared discuss current initiatives and provide accurate quotes.
7.) Cincinnati Subchapter: Amy Roberts facilitates membership growth and leadership development of Cincinnati FCAA members, with support from FCAA members all over Ohio, particularly members of the FCAA-OH chapter leadership team.
Allies and Partnering Organizations
We believe in a collective voice and collaboration between agencies.
Our allies include:
- Mark Kroner from Lighthouse Youth Services
- Professor Alvin Mares of Ohio State University
- Dora Sterling from the Ohio Family Care Association
- Mark Mecum from the Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies
- Cece Norwood of Nirvana Now
Our organizational members include:
- Adoption Network Cleveland
- Beech Acres
- Berea Children's Home and Family Services
- Cincinnati Works
- Montgomery County Children Services
- National Youth Advocate Program
- Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies
- Pressley Ridge
- Public Children's Services Association of Ohio
- Village Network
- Youth Empowerment Program
|
