Let's make sure a tighter Alaska Budget doesn't leave its foster youth out in the cold! An article in today's paper from FFCA's Amanda Metivier and State Representative Les Gara http://www.adn.com/article/20150103/lets-make-sure-tighter-alaska-budget-doesnt-leave-its-foster-kids-out-cold
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Many Alaskans are applying for their 2015 Permanent Fund Dividend and will share a portion with a non-profit they believe in. We hope you will choose to Pick.Click.Give to Facing Foster Care in Alaska.
They are wrenched from abusive homes, uprooted again and again, often with their life’s belongings stuffed into a trash bag. Abandoned and alone, they are among California’s most powerless children. But instead of providing a stable home and caring family, the state’s foster care system gives them a pill.
With alarming frequency, foster and health care providers are turning to a risky but convenient remedy to control the behavior of thousands of troubled kids: numbing them with psychiatric drugs that are untested on and often not approved for children. Click here to read more. Laptop drive collects computers for foster kids By KTVA CBS 11 News 6:38 PM December 18, 2014 ANCHORAGE – This holiday season, an Alaska group is stepping forward to help give local foster kids a leg up on their education.
Facing Foster Care in Alaska — an organization comprised of youth and alumni of the state’s foster care system — recently launched its “Laptops 4 Foster Youth” drive, which aims to provide donated laptops to as many of Alaska’s 2,400 foster youth as possible. The computer drive is supported by the office of Anchorage Rep. Les Gara, which partners with FFCA to match laptop donations. Click here to read more. Amanda Metivier, FFCA Executive Director, appeared along with state Representative Les Gara on the May 30 edition of Alaska Political Insider. The two dscussed the needs of foster youthin Alaska and ways to help, such as laptop donations, becoming a mentor, foster parenting and adoption. Watch the broadcast now.
FFCA Executive Director Amanda Metivier was featured on the May 28, 2013 broadcast of Talk of Alaska on APRN. Amanda spoke about education issues and foster youth. Listen to the broadcast archive.
The winter 2013 FFCA retreat was held in Juneau. During the retreat youth and alumni spent time at the Capitol meeting with legislators to educate them about Alaska's foster care system. Several FFCA members were introduced on the House floor while observing State Representatives in session. Click here to view the video of their introductions. It's awesome!
Amanda Metivier, foster care alum and longtime coordinator of Facing Foster Care in Alaska, was awarded the prestigious Casey Family Foundation Excellence for Children Alumni Award at a ceremony held in Seattle on January 17, 2013. Amanda was chosen from among former foster youth in all 50 states for this recognition. As many throughout Alaska know, Amanda has been a tireless leader and advocate for improving the foster care system in Alaska. She has nurtured the growth of FFCA, which recently became its own 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, and has been instrumental in achieving significant legislative changes that have benefited foster youth, such as extending the age of foster care to 21 and allowing for re-entry into foster care for older youth. Along the way, Amanda managed to earn both a bachelors and masters degree in social work. She is currently employed at the UAA Child Welfare Academy overseeing the Education and Training Voucher program, providing postsecondary education support, intensive case management, and assistance to foster youth who attend college or vocational programs that will lead to gainful employment. Amanda continues in her leadership position with FFCA in addition to her "day job." Congratulations Amanda!
Read more. Click here to view a video interview of Amanda on the Casey Family Programs website. The Alaska Foster Family Protection Act offers youth supported improvements to our current foster care system:
"Today's CEO ShoutOut goes to our friends and partners, Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA), a dedicated group of youth and alumni who work to advocate for the rights of young people in and from foster care. FFCA has had great success partnering with alumnus, Alaska State Representative Les Gara, who has made foster care reform a top personal priority. FFCA first worked with Rep. Gara to overturn an outdated state statute that placed a gag order on youth in foster care, restricting them from speaking out about their experiences in foster care. FFCA also worked with Representative Gara and other allies to bring media attention and public concern to the growing needs of youth as they transition out of foster care." (Excerpt from email blast sent by Foster Care Alumni of America)
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