Foster Care Experience
Jenny Konrath entered foster
care at age four, in Chicago, Illinois. At age eight, she was moved to Dayton,
Ohio, to live with her aunt, as part of an official interstate foster care
placement. One of many things that Jenny takes seriously, and is eager to
advocate about is what it's like for foster care youth to be caught in the
limbo of dual state custody.
Leadership
Jenny Konrath serves a volunteer in the following roles: (a.) Montgomery County
VISION Board member, (b.) Acting Media Spokesperson of OHIO Youth Advisory
Board, (c.) Selected member of Law and Leadership in Dayton, OH, which focuses
on teaching legal awareness, (d.) Member of UCREW, designed to address social
needs through the development of social enterprise (e.) Lead Youth Representative
on Ohio's statewide Transitional Housing Task Force.
Jenny believes in making a
difference in the world, by taking action. One area in which she hopes to make
a difference is the foster care system. Her advocacy efforts include focusing
on achieving equal opportunities for interstate youth who are a part of the
foster care system. Jenny is also very passionate about youth who have the
option to live with family members. Her own placement with her aunt provided
Jennifer with the opportunity to reunite with her younger brother.
Jenny has presented as a
youth panelist during the NILA Conference, the Ohio CASA conference, and at
local workforce development meetings.
As the only Youth
Representative on Ohio's statewide Transitional Housing Task Force, Jenny took
the initiative to design a Youth Survey, and to reach out to youth all over the
state to invite their insights. This was all Jenny's idea. She scheduled phone
calls with young people representing multiple regions of the state, throughout
Ohio. This is because when Jenny shared insights on the Statewide Task Force,
she wanted to represent the Collective Voice of young people in and from foster
care throughout Ohio.
Jenny stands out -- clear
and simple. If you give her a task, she gets it done. If you provide her with
an opportunity, she makes the very most of that opportunity. If you give her a chance
to speak on behalf of foster care youth, she always focuses on the Collective
Voice and not just her own.
That's rare. That's
exceptional. That's important. From the moment that Jenny entered the advocacy arena, she has been focused on the Big Picture. From the time she took her first statistics
class, she has been on the lookout for ways for foster care youth throughout Ohio to
share their voice.
Awards / Achievements
In March 2013, Jenny Konrath
was chosen, in a statewide competitive process, to participate in Three Days On
the Hill. After DC-based training and preparation hosted by CCAI and the Office
of Representative Karen Bass, Jenny and 11 other Ohio foster care youth met
with:
- Representative Pat Tiberi
- Representative Mike Turner
- House Speaker JohnBoehner
- Becky Shipp, Health Policy
Advisor to the Senate Finance Committee
- Senator Rob Portman
In May 2013, Jenny
participated in Congressional Youth Shadow Day, and was paired with Congresswoman
Marcia L. Fudge, representing Ohio's 11th District. Participating youth
accompanied their Members of Congress to hearings, meetings, floor votes, and
other activities throughout the morning. These young people had the opportunity
to share their stories with Members of Congress and discuss reforms to the
foster care system.
Future Goals
Jenny is currently in the process of submitting her application to several
colleges and universities. She is thoughtful, articulate and detail-oriented. Her decisions in terms of
higher education and her future career will be practical and knowledge-based. And, whether in a paid or volunteer role, her future efforts will include a
focus on improving long-term outcomes for young people in and from the foster
care system.
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