Friday, December 30, 2011

Conference Call Tips

At EmpowerMEnt we use conference calls as a great way to share information and make decisions with a group, while saving people travel time and money. This legislative session, starting January 6th at 10am, the JUSTGeorgia coalition will be hosting members only conference calls to keep people updated on the Children's Code Rewrite. You can join in by becoming a member of the JUSTGeorgia coalition and emailing Julia Neighbors. 

Here are some tips to make sure you are conference call ready!


  1. Make sure you are on time for the conference call.
  2. Have pen and paper ready.
  3. Make sure you are in a quiet space or mute yourself until called upon. Don't use speakerphone.
  4. After you dial the number you may be asked to state your name.
  5. Only speak when the group is asked a question, if everyone is allowed to speak freely, and/or if you are not talking over someone else.  

A special thank you to Brittany for the great advice!!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Become an Expert this Legislative Session

Georgia's 2012 legislative session will begin next month. Here are the steps to make sure you stay informed about bills that will effect youth in foster care and DJJ care, even if you can't make it down to the capitol in person.

  1. Sign up for customized reports sent to your email with the Legislative Tracker Tool from Voices for Georgia's Children. If you sign up for the State Juvenile Justice reports the first bill being tracked is the Foster Children Psychotropic Medication Monitoring Act.
  2. Become a member of the JUSTGeorgia Coalition here. EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Crew is a part of this coalition.
  3. Middle school and high school students can apply to serve as a page for a day in the Georgia Senate or House of Representatives and work with local legislators face to face. 
  4. RSVP with jneighbors@justga.org to participate in weekly conference calls once you have become a member of the JUSTGeorgia Coalition. The first call will be held January 6th at 10 am and will explain the Children's Code Rewrite
  5. Attend the JUSTGeorgia Day at the capitol February 7th, 2012
  6. Attend Children's Day at the capitol February 28th, 2012
  7. Like the JUSTGeorgia Crew Facebook Page to learn about other opportunities to make sure Youth Voice is heard this legislative session!!!


Monday, November 28, 2011

Teen Dies in GA Youth Detention Center

November 7th at the Augusta Youth Development Campus, 19 year old Jade Holder was beaten to death in his cell.  So far, a captain at the YDC has been suspended and 17 year old Michael Everidge had been charged with the murder.

What some are calling a "red flag" is the fact that Everidge did not show up for his bond hearing, and his mother was given no explanation why. You can watch a video from wrdw-tv which includes a statement from his mother and details of a beating that happened 2 days before.

What do you think about the safety of youth in Georgia detention centers?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New DJJ Commissioner


This Monday, L. Gale Buckner attending a swearing in ceremony with Governor Nathan Deal to become Georgia's new Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner. She replaces former Comissioner Amy Howell who resigned earlier this month.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Youth Voice Needed for Children's Code Rewrite!

Please take the poll on the right & comment below! 

We need to know your vote/voice on the following --- do you want to see a judge have to approve if your attorney can also be a GAL for you?   _____Yes            ____No
      
If your answer was yes, why?    If your answer was no, why?

·       The new Children’s Code Rewrite makes it possible for one person to represent you as your attorney and guardian ad litem.  If you may not be clear on this distinction, what this means is that your attorney represents YOUR interests directly.  A Guardian Ad Litem, sometimes you will hear this as “GAL” – can be an attorney or other individual in place to represent what they feel is in your best interest, even if it’s not what you think is best for you.  The code permits one person serving in both the role of your attorney and GAL only until there presents any conflict, for example, if you feel your attorney is favoring what they think is your best interest over representing what you are wanting to see represented as your interest – and you no longer feel the working relationship with this person is working, as a result of this conflict in professional roles as it relates to your life and your case.
  
·         Now, there is an opinion by a leader in Fulton County that the law language should be strengthened so that it states that an attorney shall (which means they have to comply) NOT serve also as your GAL, and that they only be allowed to do so if the judge orders that it is appropriate after review.  Fulton County operates off of a client-directed model, which means all of their youth have only attorneys, not people who can do both (meaning, represent you and represent what they think is in your best interest at the same time).
·         The other option is to leave the language as-is, where the law would permit your attorney to serve also as your GAL without requiring permission from the judge to do so, again, only until there is any conflict and then their role in representing you would have to be renegotiated/reassigned.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!!!

"If you're not at the table, you'll end up on the menu." Anonymous Author


It's a SCARY thought for those who are not involved in decision-making about their lives...right? What does this quote mean to you??? 



Monday, October 17, 2011

School Stability in Foster Care

Did you know that the law states DFCS must keep kids in the same schools they were in before they entered foster care? This law is known as the Fostering Connections Act of 2008.

Learn more about this federal law from a Foster Care & Education Brief at FosteringConnections.org

How many times did you change schools in foster care?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Juvenile Detention Centers are "No Place for Kids"


A report released from the Annie E. Casey Foundation on Tuesday says locking kids up in juvenile detention centers: 

Does NOT keep communities safer 
Does NOT keep kids from offending in the future
Wastes Money
Is NOT safe for kids

Please read more of the report No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Juvenile Incarceration and let us know your thoughts and opinions!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

New Research Shows Importance of Youth Engagement

"Use strength-based planning processes that are directed by the young people themselves. Promote young people’s active engagement in all discussions and decisionmaking. Encourage young people to lead meetings whenever possible." Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative 

Do you agree with this recomendation based on a new report titled "The Adolescent Brain: New Research and Its Implications for Young People Transitioning From Foster Care"?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A Bill (but not on Capitol Hill!)



The Children's Code Rewrite is just a bill, BUT it's not sitting on capitol hill. That's because it is a Georgia bill, so it's sitting under the gold dome. Just like in this video, the Children's Code Rewrite wants to become a law! To learn more, read this press release by the JUSTGeorgia Coalition.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Did You Know: GA Youth in DJJ Care

Did you know there are 22,000 kids currently involved with Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice?

There are 2,000 kids incarcerated in Georgia.


There are 20,000 kids on probation with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Georgia.


This is more than double the number of Georgia kids in foster care and about 3 times as many!!! Learn more from this article by the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange.





Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Juvenile Court Parties???

In the juvenile court, a Party means a person who is directly involved in a proceeding or court hearing. 

Did you know that HB 641, the Children's Code Rewrite, makes sure children and youth are included as parties in juvenile court hearings about them? 

Under the current Georgia juvenile code, children and youth are not included in the definition of who is a party to court proceedings and hearings. 

This is just one reason, EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team supports the Children's Code Rewrite!!! 



Monday, August 29, 2011

House Hearings on the Children's Code Rewrite

In case you missed them, EmpowerMEnt successfully represented YOUTH VOICE at the hearings on the Children's Code Rewrite by the House Judiciary Committee!!!

Thank you to Giovan, Kendra, and Michael for testifying on the need for attorney's, gaurdian ad litems, siblings staying together, and ILP services!!! Anthony, Antionette, Kim, and Adrian provided statements to be included in a legislative memo on the importance of school stability among other topics.

photo courtesy of Chandra Thomas

EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Crew would also like to recognize Sandra Michaels of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for her dedication to ensuring youth in Georgia recieve adequate representation in juvenile court and that status offenders are not detained!!!

For more information about the hearings stay tuned for our next TEAM MEETING and check out the article Stakeholders, Foster Kids Speak Out On Georgia Juvenile Code Rewrite by Chandra Thomas of the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange.

Here are the statements by our amazing advocates that speak to the importance of the Children's Code Rewrite...


·       I think having school stability is a good idea because a foster child has to change school every time they get replaced. It makes some kids get back on their class work and when some kids get back on one class then all their grades start going down.                                                                                                                                                      Antionette, age 17                        

·       I believe that having stability while getting your education is VERY important. I also, was placed in many different schools causing me to have to catch up all the time. Stability is a must to get through all of your studies. Therefore, you wont be behind and will have a better chance at an higher gpa.                                         Kim, Student at Atlanta Technical College

               
·       I think that it is very important to have school stability. As a foster youth I was exposed to soooo many changes and one of hem was placement changes; every time I had a placement change I also had to change schools, which meat that I always had to get to know the teachers, and I was always catching up in my school work. This frustrated me to the point where I just stopped doing school work all together. At least until I was placed in my permanent placement, where I was stable and felt comfortable enough to begin to try and do better. 
                                                                                                                               Anthony, EmpowerMent Assistant Youth Project Coordinator

·       How you can you expect me to socialize with others if I have been treated like an outcast. How can you expect me to one day handle responsibilities as an adult when I have been given ones like a child. How can I love when I have not been loved.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                  Adrian, Student at Clayton State University  

Monday, August 22, 2011

Know Your Juvenile Justice Definitions

Adjudication, Informal Adjustment, Highly Intensive Team Supervision...Wanna brush up on all the juvenile justice definitions you've heard? Here's everything you need to become an expert from the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange! (And it's right in time for the Children's Code Rewrite Hearings THIS WEEK!)
Click on the link-> Juvenile Justice Terms and Definitions

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Georgia DJJ Newsletter



The newest online edition of Directions, Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice Newsletter, features our very own Giovan Bazan on page 12!
http://www.djj.state.ga.us/NewsDesk/PDF/NewsLetters/SpringSummer2011.pdf

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Did You Know: GA Youth in Foster Care

Did you know that in Georgia, 547 youth left foster care after the age of 18 last year?*

That there were 7,844 youth in Georgia foster care on June 30th, 2011.

That there were 2,229 Georgia youth ages 13-17 in foster care on August 1st, 2011.

 *The last state fiscal year ended June 30th, 2011 and the 2012 state fiscal year starts on July 1st, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Action Update: Children's Code Rewrite

Work continues to get the Children's Code Rewrite ready for next year's legislative session! Hearings will be held on August 23rd and 25th at 2pm. On August 23rd, the first hearing will be an overview of HB 641 "The Child Protection and Public Safety Act" (aka the Children's Code Rewrite.) The second hearing on August 25th will have time set to hear tesimony from stakeholders and we would love for all EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team Members to attend!!!
Please email us at justgacrew@gmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Scholarships for Social Action Leaders

DoSomething.Org is an online community for youth taking action in their communities. They offer a place to get the word out about projects, awards for social action leaders, grant money, and a scholarship database for young people who volunteer!

 

Friday, July 29, 2011

Children's Code ACTION ALERT!!!

The JUSTGeoriga Coaltion recently got word that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a special hearing on the Children's Code Rewrite! The date and location of the hearing is not determined yet, but will be a part of the special session of the Georgia General Assembly that starts August 15th, 2011.

So what can you do as EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team Members?
1. Know who your legislators are and get their phone numbers!
 Click on My Voter Page to get this info!
2. Call your state representatives and let them know you support the Children's Code Rewrite (HB 641)
 3. Stay Tuned for more information!!!
 4.  Email us at justgacrew@gmail.com to JOIN EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia TEAM and let us know if you have any questions!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Daily Report Covers the Children's Code Rewrite

Here's the latest coverage of the Children's Code Rewrite! Thanks to Voices for Georgia's Children you can check it out here!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Psychotropic Medication Survey

We have an important announcement from EmpowerMEnt's Medication Oversight Initiative! They have created a survey with Emory's Barton Child Law and Policy Center on Psychotropic Medication for current and former foster youth. Please help us spead the word, take the survey, and to join the Medication Oversight Team contact Octavia Fugerson at tayfugerson@hotmail.com!


Monday, July 18, 2011

Did You Know: GA Juvenile Facilities & Overcrowding


Did you know that 36% of Georgia juveniles labeled "offenders in facilities" are subjected to overcrowded conditions?  This statistic comes from a 2008 report from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Check out the full report here!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Document Retreat:Last Call!!!

Here's one last reminder for the document retreat tomorrow Saturday, July 16th at 10 am in the MAAC offices! Hope to see the whole JUSTGeorgia Team there!!!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

College Course on the Prison & Foster Care Connection

Some college courses go above and beyond; like a special Directed Study Political Science class at the University of California, Berkley. Their weekly topics include "Fundamentals of the Foster Care System," "Links between Prison & Foster Care,"  "Racial & Ethnic Disparities in the Foster Care System," "Life after Foster Care."

Even if you can't attend UC Berkley next semester, you can still check out their class topics and posts at   http://lifetimesentence.tumblr.com/. It includes all kinds of resources for families involved with the foster care system, including national foster care advocacy publications and ways for allies to get involved!

Friday, July 8, 2011

"Good Behavior Bill" & Runaway Safety Act

This month on July 1st, two Georgia bills that impact youth became law. Learn more about the "Good Behavior Bill" and the Runaway Safety Act at JJIE.org

Thursday, July 7, 2011

New EmpowerMEnt Document Retreat!


Calling all EmpowerMEnt members!!! Planning for the new EmpowerMEnt document will be Saturday July 16th at the MAAC office. Please r.s.v.p. with Sarah Bess!

Monday, July 4, 2011

MVP: Ashley Hawkins



This Independence Day, we are proud to announce our very first MVP of EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team-Ashley Hawkins!!! If have been a member of the EmpowerMEnt family for long, you undoubtedly have met the Hawkins Boys. Ashley is an advocate that had an incredibly positive expereince with foster care in Georgia and still dedicates his time and his voice to improve outcomes for others. He has been an influential member of the JUSTGeorgia team and is never shy around a mic!

Ashley speaking at our Youth Justice BBQ


Age: 21

Hometown: I'm from Atlanta but was raised in Upson County Ga. 

EmpowerMEnt Region: I represent region 13.

JUSTGeorgia Team Involvement: I was one of the guys who help write the mission statement of JUSTGeorgia. I also help design the logo. I guess you can say I helped form JUSTGeorgia.

Thoughts on the Children's Code Rewrite: I think what JUSTGeorgia is doing is Awesome!! The Children's Code definitely needs a rewrite. It hasnt been updated since the 70's. We all know things have changed dramatically since then. I hope that we can help accommodate all youth with our suggestions for the rewrite. 


Ashley and Alexander Hawkins

"My experience in foster care was great. The caseworkers, supervisors, and director of Upson County DFCS are amazing people. They were and still are very supportive of my brothers and I, and did their jobs very well. My foster parent is one of the best in the United States of America. He fought for our rights and treated us as though we were his own. I love him like a father and consider him as so. He did things I know no other foster parent would do for us. Because of him The Hawkins Boys are who we are today." Ashley Hawkins

Congratuations Ashley Hawkins and thank you for your contribution to our team! 


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A Spark of Inspiration Part 3: Do What You Think is Right

All good things must come to and end, and this is the end of our interview with Sir Aaron Mason of Becoming Sir! Here he gives advice for all the advocates out there sharing their story to help our younger brothers and sisters in foster care. Make sure you like the Becoming Sir Facebook Page!


JUSTGeorgia Crew: What advice do you have for youth about sharing their experiences with the foster care system?

Sir Aaron Mason: The advice that I give for sharing your story would be to do what you feel is right. Do not put much thought into what someone my think of you; you never know who may here it or who may be touched by it. 

I use to find myself reluctant to disclose certain details of my experience in fear that I may hurt someone. However, if I am able to inspire the thousands of kids out there in foster care then does it really matter what hard feelings one person may have. 

In addition, always keep in mind why you are telling your story. I remind myself everyday that I am doing it to encourage all the children out there in foster care or who just need a little encouragement to not give up; you can still make something of yourself, but it takes work! Knowing why I am doing this helps me through those tough days where things may not be going as planned.

Monday, June 27, 2011

A Spark of Inspiration Part 2: Prove all the Doubters Wrong!

This is the second part of our interview with Sir Aaron Mason, director of Jay's Legacy Youth Wellness Center and author of the Becoming Sir blog. If you haven't yet checked out his story, read our review here! In his latest post Quality vs. Quantity he touches on the "negative stimga" that foster care carries and shares an experience with a staff member at a group home that was short-lived but tremendously impactful.







EmpoweMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Crew: How have the stereotypes surrounding foster care impacted you personally?


Sir Aaron Mason: Stereotypes of children in foster care have had significant impact in my life. Many times people count foster children out not thinking that they would amount to much. Seeing that there were people out there whom thought that I was destined to fail instilled a desire within to want to succeed. Their doubt became my fuel for success. 

My ability to overcome the many stereotypes that people view of children in foster care has also helped me in my professional career. When interviewing for a job, I do not hesitate to share my background. Many supervisors out there especially in the human services field see countless cycles of failure amongst the children they serve, when I sit down with them and tell them, “hey! I have been through what these kids are going through, I have overcame the obstacles that they are facing, and I have made something of myself”, they are reminded why they really began working in Human Services field in the first place. 

So, work hard to break through those barriers and stereotypes of foster care and make something of yourself, prove all the doubters wrong!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

A Spark of Inspiration: Author of Becoming Sir


If you haven't yet seen the Becoming Sir blog, it's a must read for all advocates and allies. For advocates (those of us who have experienced foster care directly), the experiences shared may hit close to home and are expressed with and admirable amount of honesty and mindfulness. For allies, an impressively balanced depiction of life in the foster care system can be found here.

Its author, Sir Aaron Mason, recognizes the assistance that geniuenly caring professionals provide and exposes what he calls a "culture of superiority and dominance"  in the foster care system. He speaks candidly about the abuse he endured at the group home McLaren Hall, and the loving Ms. Emma who worked as a staff there. He touches on the stigma that the foster care system carries, and the emotional distance he found after returning home with his biological mother. In his first post Am I Protected?, Aaron writes, "When Child Protective Services removes a child from an unsafe environment, it is common practice to place them in a safer environment then the one he/she left. In many instances, this does not happen." 

Aaron was kind enough to share some words of wisdom as a fellow advocate and this is what he had to share with the EmpowerMEnt family. The interview that follows was so informative, we will share it in a three part series!


JUSTGeorgia Crew: What inspired you to begin telling your story in this way?


Sir Aaron Mason: 
For a while, sharing my story was just a dream. Periodically I would tell my story to random people I came across and they were touched… They would recommend that I write a book… I would jokingly say things like “it’s already a best seller”, or “you haven’t caught my movie on life time?” In all honesty, I just did not know how to get my story out there.

Well one day, while working at the youth center that I direct, I began to engage a few of the youth in a conversation a bout their lives. This conversation included all kinds of things from legal troubles to their relationship with their parents and siblings.

They were really down on themselves. They had pretty much lost the desire to overcome all the crap in their lives. I took notice to their lack of hope and chimed in with my experiences. I pured my heart out to these kids for about an hour and you can see their whole attitude change. One of the kids replied… “Wow what I am going through isn’t anything… I can most defiantly get through this.”

For a few days, this experience set with me. I start thinking of all the children out there who have given up hope. How these children do not have any real examples of true struggle and success. Just seeing how my story relinquished hope with the youth I worked with inspired me to get working on a way to reach all the other children out there who just need a little spark of inspiration to get them back on track.

I began to research different ways of getting my story out there and stumbled onto Google Sites. It was perfect, just what I needed, and it was FREE! I purchased a domain name and there you have it!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Join the Team!!!



As EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Initiative we are just a part of a youth-led organization that supports, educates, and trains our brothers and sisters in foster care. Learn more about the Vision of our Leaders and what EmpowerMEnt is all about!



Our JUSTGeorgia Initiative is working hard to promote an understanding of the issues that youth involved with foster care and the juvenile justice system face and the passage of the Children's Code Rewrite. You can join our team of Advocates and Allies just by sending us an email at JUSTGACREW@gmail.com!


Friday, June 17, 2011

National Foster Youth Action Network



The National Foster Youth Action Network is taking the success of California Youth Connection (CYC) nation-wide. According to their website, the NFYAN "equips, trains, and empowers foster youth to take leadership in advocating for their interests in improving the foster care system." This year they announced the Virginia Youth Advisory Council as their fourth partner. Learn more by watching the video below, checking out their website, or liking their facebook page!


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Celebration of Excellence

Especially for those who just left this year's Higher Education Institute, a look back at 2010's Celebration of Excellence! This video is from the Center for Sustainable Journalism and features EmpowerMEnt's own Adrian Hawkins!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

Consensus Organizing Training




Last month EmpowerMEnt had the opportunity to learn about Consensus Organizing when trainers from the Consensus Organizing Center at San Diego State University came to Atlanta. (Thank you Jennifer & Jen!) The method is currently being used for their Foster Youth Initiative that over 180 of our brothers and sisters in California have participated in, and 80% have gone on the college. The Consensus Organizing Model was created by Mike Eichler and it empowers communities through building partnerships with likely and unlikely partners.




Here's EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia team hard at work! You can like the Consensus Organizing Center on Facebook or read some of their publications here.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Governor Deal Supports Childrens Code Rewrite

According to a recent press release from JUSTGeorgia, Governor Nathan Deal and others already support the Child Protection and Public Safety Act (a.k.a. the Children's Code Rewrite, SB 127, and HB 641.)  “The time has come for us to rethink how our state is responding to children who have found themselves in trouble with the law,” said Governor Deal. “I applaud the careful thinking and inclusive engagement that has gone into developing the Child Protection and Public Safety Act.”

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Did You Know: Job Training for Incarcerated Youth

Did you know that incarcerated youth rated job training as the most helpful service they received inside or outside a detention facility? Read more here to see the study What Incarcerated Youth Say Would Help Them Succeed: Can Extension Play a Role in the The Journal of Extension. The study was conducted in two youth detention centers in Nevada and was published in 2002.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Foster Care Alumni Surveys

Have an opinion on what changes to the foster care system you would like to see a national organization, The Foster Care Alumni of America, advocate for? Would you like to see your organization's, or your own volunteer work recognized? Participate in these surveys by clicking here.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Did You Know: Cost of Incarcerating Youth

Did you know that incarcerating youth in a juvenile justice facility costs an average of $240.99 per day per youth? The Costs of Confinement: Why Good Juvenile Justice Policies Make Good Fiscal Sense published by the Justice Policy Institute in May 2009 explains how alternatives to placing youth in youth detention centers can save states money and make communities safer.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

A Powerful Voice-Our Ally Michael Piraino

Michael Piraino is the CEO for the National CASA Association and he has written several pieces for the Impact section of the Huffington Post that are of great significance to youth and former youth involved in the foster care system. His posts include Homeless for the HolidaysA Nation of Volunteers and most recently, The Overmedication of Foster Kids.

A post he made this March after the national CASA conference entitled Fulfilling our Fundemental Obligation is a powerful call to action.  He states, "The time has come for us to honor our society's most fundamental obligation and to ensure the right of every child -- even those who enter foster care due to abuse and neglect -- to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to learn and to grow in the embrace of a loving family." EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Initiative is thankful for the powerful voice and ally we have in CASA's like Michael Piraino!!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

ILP, APPLA, WTLP...HUH? Youth Aging Out of Foster Care in Georgia

Here's another video full of information about Georgia's foster care system. It was made by the Georgia Child Welfare Legal Academy in 2009.

First Judge Vincent Crawford of the Juvenile Court in Dekalb County explains aging out of the foster care system or what they call "the least deisred permanency option."

Next Ms. Ebony Harris the Director of Georgia's Independent Living explains the ILP program. Skip to 45 minutes to hear her EmpowerMEnt shout out!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Watch Mandy & Raif Change the System!



We are not alone in our struggle! From Place to Place is a documentary about Mandy and Riaf, aging out of foster care in Montana and working to change the foster care system on a national level.

Check out the website FromPlacetoPlaceMovie.com, where you can purchase the film, get information on how to hold a community forum on issues related to foster care, and gain encouragement to take action. Like From Place to Place on Facebook and watch the movie trailer below.



 

Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Fostering Connections Law

Have you heard of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008? This law covers youth in foster care and many things were changed by this law.

This law states that the federal government will give money to states for certain youth in foster care to be transported to their "school of origin" and to provide support and services to certain youth who leave foster care on or after their 16th birthday and until they reach 21.

In this video from Emory University's Barton Child Law and Policy Center an attorney explains the Fostering Connections Law and you can learn more from the Foster Care Alumni's overview here.




Wednesday, May 25, 2011

2011 DJJ Graduations!

  Congratuations to the 2011 graduates at Agusta's YDC and Savannah River Challenge Program!!! Like the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice on Facebook to learn more or watch a video of the Augusta YDC graduation here!







Monday, May 23, 2011

The Children's Code Rewrite-Why Should I Care?

Georgia's juvenile code is so important! It sets up our juvenile courts and tells judges, lawyers, DFCS caseworkers, and others what should happen when a child has to go to court for deprivation and delinquency cases. It also covers Independent Living Services and emancipation.


There are several reasons that the Young Lawyer's Division of the State Bar of Georgia and the JUSTGeorgia coalition are working on a rewrite of the juvenile code. One example is that the juvenile code Georgia has in place now was written over 40 years ago and enacted in 1971. A lot of changes have occurred since then!  


You can learn more about the Children's Code Rewrite on JUSTGeorgia's website where they include short and long summaries of the bill and explainations of the changes that would be made to the current Juvenile Code. 






Saturday, May 21, 2011

What do Bon Jovi & EmpoweMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team Have in Common?


What do Bon Jovi & EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia team have in common? We care about youth justice! Bon Jovi met with about a dozen youth from community organizations in Atlanta for the White House Council for Community Solutions.

Read more about this story here and Share your ideas with White House Council for Community Solutions here!!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011