Save the Date: May 22, 2010

Message from the Purple Project:

The Purple Project, would like to invite your agency and teens in care, to attend “Finishing The Journey,” Aging  Out of Today’s Foster Care System, a youth conference in Cleveland, Ohio  May 22, 2010. This is a  great opportunity for teens!  

Guest Speakers will include Emmy award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels from the pioneer group RUN DMC, County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, and Philanthropist-Foster Care Alumni and Advocates Tanya Cooper and Tanisha Cunningham. 

• Registration form
• Finishing the Journey conference brochure
• Information about the Purple Project
• The Pathway to Success Nomination Form

Please contact the Purple Project at (216) 269-6667, email youth@thepurpleproject.com or visit us at www.thepurpleproject.com if you have any questions or need assistance registering.  

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

2010 Ohio YAB Officers

President Alex McFarland, Montgomery County

Vice President Cieria Rodriguez-Toney, Lorain County

Treasurer Krystal Robinson, Lorain County

Secretary Chasstity Young, Athens County

Media Spokesperson - TBA

Parliamentarian - TBA

An Open Letter Dr. William C. Bell, CEO of Casey Family Programs

Dear Dr. William C. Bell,

We are writing you on behalf of the Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB), a youth-led
organization that exists to be the statewide voice for Ohio foster care youth, to ask Casey
Family Programs to offer scholarships for each of the 50 states so that two youth from
each state can attend the 2010 NILA “Growing Pains” conference.

Every year, foster care and emancipated youth throughout the nation looked forward to
the “It’s My Life” conference, formerly sponsored by Casey Family Programs. This
conference provided youth leadership and advocacy training, facilitated national
information-sharing regarding Best Practices, and contributed to building the national
network of foster care youth and alumni.

Now that “It's My Life” is on (permanent?) hiatus, the annual NILA “Growing Pains”
conference, sponsored by the Daniel Memorial Institute, is the primary national
conference that facilitates interaction between foster care youth, foster care alumni and
child welfare professionals each year. This conference is coordinated by Stephanie
Waugerman, (904) 296-1055 ext. 1013, SWaugerman@danielkids.org

The 2010 NILA “Growing Pains” conference will take place from September 7-10, 2010 in
Washington D.C. Activities will include legislator visits with Congressional representatives
from across the nation, and an opportunity to meet with the Senate Caucus Committee on
Foster Care. Sponsoring two youth from every state to participate would allow 100
foster care youth an opportunity and a voice at our nation’s capital.

We welcome any questions you may have regarding this request.

Sincerely,

Alex McFarland, President
Cieria Rodriguez-Toney, Vice President
Ohio Youth Advisory Board

2010 Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Statewide Meetings

To encourage and allow for youth participation during quarterly Ohio YAB statewide meetings, they are scheduled in conjunction with the Ohio Independent Living Association's quarterly meetings:

• January 21, 2010
• April 15, 2010
• July 15, 2010
• October 21, 2010

Meetings will be held at the ODJFS Air Center located at 4020 E. Fifth Street in Columbus from 11:00AM - 2:00PM.

Young Advocate Leadership Training on Saturday, Nov. 7th

The Ohio Children's Defense Fund is partnering with Central State University to host the first annual Young Advocate Leadership Training® program. This intensive organizing training will bring together over 100 student leaders from across the state.

Training Date: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009

Training Location: Central State University, 1400 Brush Row Rd., P.O. Box 1004, Wilberforce OH 45384, in the Auditorium of the Center for Education & Natural Sciences Building, Room 114.

CDF-Ohio will provide meals and coordinate transportation for all successful applicants. This might be particularly helpful for youth who are over the age of 18/emancipated and actively involved in local and statewide youth advisory efforts.

Kelly Knight receives the Mary Ellen Social Work Award

During the 2009 Ohio CASA conference, the Ohio YAB's very own Kelly Knight was awarded the Mary Ellen Social Work Award for Excellence in Children Services.

Since January 2008, Kelly has trained over 130 new CASA/GAL volunteers, during her nights and weekends. She tells her classes, "If you don't see concurrent planning, you should be questioning the case plan and insisting on its inclusion."

During her acceptance speech, Kelly pointed out that, "Time passes differently for children."

Kelly described how, for busy professionals, postponing paperwork or continuing a case might be tempting because time seems to be moving quickly. But for the child, that time is moving painfully slowly in terms of connecting them with love and permanency.

OHIO YAB Play Production

Lights! Camera! Action!

The OHIO YAB will be presenting a theatrical production of All My Foster Children during the 23rd Annual PCSAO Conference.

Learn More At: http://sites.google.com/site/ohioyabplay/