Action Reflection
Prepared by: Bryan Nichol
The action I took was writing a prayer. I chose this action because I feel God is the best person to talk to about the foster care problem in America. I feel the prayer is a great way to express the foster care problem. It allows people to hear what is going on in foster care and most importantly God needs to hear about the problem. If God hears about one of the most important problems plaguing America, he’ll be able to do something about it. That is why a prayer is a great way to end this problem.
With the writing of the prayer, I tried to let people know about the issues foster care presents to many people in America. When I wrote, the prayer, I tried to tell God about what is going on in foster care and why it has become such a terrible epidemic. I felt I was successful in trying to tell people about foster care and what they, along with me and many others can do to help rid the issue. The prayer is a simple way to get the word out and I felt I did that.
In the future, I see myself doing as much as I can to help the justice issues I encounter in the later years of my life. The least I can do is making an example of what people should do and hopefully many others will follow in my footsteps. This project has helped me see the bigger picture in life. It has shown me that there are many things going on in my life and I can do something to help. It has also shown me that in order for the issue to be terminated, then I have to do something about it, I can’t just sit around and wait for someone else to do it for me, I have to do it myself.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Interview Questions
1. What led you to get involved with Foster Care and the children in the system?
2. How has seeing some of the children in the system getting beaten and abused by their birth parents affected how you live your life and how you treat children in general?
3. We know you care for the children until the age 18, but we are concerned about where the children go after they turn 18?
4. What has changed the way you live your life by being a part of a challenging task taking care of children who have been steered the wrong way in their life?
5. What advantages and disadvantages does the foster care system offer for its workers and its children?
2. How has seeing some of the children in the system getting beaten and abused by their birth parents affected how you live your life and how you treat children in general?
3. We know you care for the children until the age 18, but we are concerned about where the children go after they turn 18?
4. What has changed the way you live your life by being a part of a challenging task taking care of children who have been steered the wrong way in their life?
5. What advantages and disadvantages does the foster care system offer for its workers and its children?
Interview Write Up
Interview with Kristina Gelardi
Prepared By: Bryan Nichol
The interview went very well. We interviewed a worker at California Youth Connection, her name was Kristina Gelardi. She is the Northern Region Policy Coordinator. She deals with the youth all over the state. She travels to the thirty- three different chapters over the United States. Kristina has worked in the San Francisco state office for three years and has been a mentor to the youth for five years. California Youth Connection is a non- profit organization. The organization identifies all the problems with the foster youth and how to fix them. The youth members range from age 14 to 24 years old. There are 30 chapters across the state. 4,000 youth age out of the system each year. There are only 1400 beds. 24000 youth emancipated each year. Each youth has their own individual living plan. She believes that family is by community, not by blood.
I was received very warmly in the beginning. She was glad that I was able to travel up all the way to San Francisco to conduct the interview. Kristina’s hospitality was very nice, when we walked in the room to start the interview, before we sat down she offered me water. I was very impressed with her professionalism. She was very kind to me and welcomed me to email or call her again at any time if I needed more information on the topic.
I learned that 24000 youth are emancipated each year. There are grants and scholarships available for the foster youth. Kristina supports 22 out of 30 chapters. I learned that it is hard for the youth to go out of state. I learned that foster youth get priority for year around housing in college.
Things I learned that I did not expect to learn were, Kristina helps foster youth prepare for hearings, she also runs the chapter meetings. She runs an activity at the chapter meetings. She becomes close with some of the youth and knows them a personal basis. Most of the youth do not like to openly talk about their situations to people. After the age of 21, you can become a supporter or a mentor to the youth.
My impressions on the interview were shocking. I didn’t expect to hear what Kristina told me about foster youth and what they go through a daily basis. I was also shocked when she told me about what her job has her doing on a daily to weekly basis. She told me, sometimes she has to drive across the state in a day to be at a chapter meeting and conduct an activity. Overall, I was impressed in how she and her organization are trying to improve the lives of foster youth across not only the state, but the nation as well.
Prepared By: Bryan Nichol
The interview went very well. We interviewed a worker at California Youth Connection, her name was Kristina Gelardi. She is the Northern Region Policy Coordinator. She deals with the youth all over the state. She travels to the thirty- three different chapters over the United States. Kristina has worked in the San Francisco state office for three years and has been a mentor to the youth for five years. California Youth Connection is a non- profit organization. The organization identifies all the problems with the foster youth and how to fix them. The youth members range from age 14 to 24 years old. There are 30 chapters across the state. 4,000 youth age out of the system each year. There are only 1400 beds. 24000 youth emancipated each year. Each youth has their own individual living plan. She believes that family is by community, not by blood.
I was received very warmly in the beginning. She was glad that I was able to travel up all the way to San Francisco to conduct the interview. Kristina’s hospitality was very nice, when we walked in the room to start the interview, before we sat down she offered me water. I was very impressed with her professionalism. She was very kind to me and welcomed me to email or call her again at any time if I needed more information on the topic.
I learned that 24000 youth are emancipated each year. There are grants and scholarships available for the foster youth. Kristina supports 22 out of 30 chapters. I learned that it is hard for the youth to go out of state. I learned that foster youth get priority for year around housing in college.
Things I learned that I did not expect to learn were, Kristina helps foster youth prepare for hearings, she also runs the chapter meetings. She runs an activity at the chapter meetings. She becomes close with some of the youth and knows them a personal basis. Most of the youth do not like to openly talk about their situations to people. After the age of 21, you can become a supporter or a mentor to the youth.
My impressions on the interview were shocking. I didn’t expect to hear what Kristina told me about foster youth and what they go through a daily basis. I was also shocked when she told me about what her job has her doing on a daily to weekly basis. She told me, sometimes she has to drive across the state in a day to be at a chapter meeting and conduct an activity. Overall, I was impressed in how she and her organization are trying to improve the lives of foster youth across not only the state, but the nation as well.
Foster Care Narrative
Jenifer W. is a freshman in college. She is age 18, and she has just discovered she is five months pregnant. She thought a college degree was more important than being a young mother. She wanted her child to be as fortunate as she was. She wanted the best for her child, so she started looking online for adoption agencies. Her and her mom came across American Adoptions. She wanted her baby to have a loving, caring family and she knew that would not have happened if she had raised the baby. Her mother called American Adoptions and was connected to a social worker named Sarah. Sarah soon became a good friend of Jenifer and her family. Sarah gave Jenifer her cell phone number and told her she could call anytime twenty-four hours, seven days a week. They began talking on a daily basis. Sarah began calling and checking in on Jenifer’s doctor’s appointments. Sarah sent photos of her baby to the family who was going to adopt her baby. The family who was going to adopt the baby was Bret and Diane. Sarah fell in love with Bret and Diane almost instantaneously. Sarah, Bret and Diane’s first phone call was in January. Bret and Diane were kind, compassionate and non judgmental. They called Jenifer “their little angel” (American adoptions). Jenifer, Sarah, Bret, Diane, and Jenifer’s parents all met at Ihop and became good friends. Bret and Diane began going to Jenifer’s doctor’s appointments as well. Diane got to hear her daughter’s heart beat for the first time. Lauren Marie was born February 20th, 2008. Jenifer wanted Diane to cut the umbilical chord because she felt it was her own child.
Jenifer was a freshman in college, age 18, when she discovered she was five months pregnant. She knew that a college degree was far more important than dropping out and struggling make ends meet for her and her child. Jenifer wants the best life for her child, so she decides to put her child up for adoption. She along with her parents talked about it, and they believe adoption is the best result for the situation. Adoption is a good thing because those who are less fortunate with parents that are not responsible, they would want to be put up for adoption and have the best life possible. This is the same thing with Jenifer’s case. Jenifer is the responsible adolescent parent who is taking responsibility for her mistake and putting the child up for adoption. A quote that explains this is, “I always felt like my mom saw it like there were three doors with three different babies behind them”(Toth 90). The system involved is the adoption agency of America and the foster care system.
Jenifer begins researching online to find adoption agencies. She comes across American Adoptions. She and her mom calls them one day and tells them her situation, she is immediately connected to a social worker. The social worker’s name is Sarah. She and Sarah begin talking weekly. Soon after that, Sarah gave Jenifer her cell phone number and told her she could call her anytime. Jenifer began sending pictures of her baby after the ultrasound to Sarah so a family interested could see what the baby looked like. A quote that would explain this would be “In 1965, Central opened its doors officially to white children, but it was nearly twenty years before the first white child was placed there” (Toth 33). This quote is talking about how people accept what they are given.
Jenifer was a freshman in college, age 18, when she discovered she was five months pregnant. She knew that a college degree was far more important than dropping out and struggling make ends meet for her and her child. Jenifer wants the best life for her child, so she decides to put her child up for adoption. She along with her parents talked about it, and they believe adoption is the best result for the situation. Adoption is a good thing because those who are less fortunate with parents that are not responsible, they would want to be put up for adoption and have the best life possible. This is the same thing with Jenifer’s case. Jenifer is the responsible adolescent parent who is taking responsibility for her mistake and putting the child up for adoption. A quote that explains this is, “I always felt like my mom saw it like there were three doors with three different babies behind them”(Toth 90). The system involved is the adoption agency of America and the foster care system.
Jenifer begins researching online to find adoption agencies. She comes across American Adoptions. She and her mom calls them one day and tells them her situation, she is immediately connected to a social worker. The social worker’s name is Sarah. She and Sarah begin talking weekly. Soon after that, Sarah gave Jenifer her cell phone number and told her she could call her anytime. Jenifer began sending pictures of her baby after the ultrasound to Sarah so a family interested could see what the baby looked like. A quote that would explain this would be “In 1965, Central opened its doors officially to white children, but it was nearly twenty years before the first white child was placed there” (Toth 33). This quote is talking about how people accept what they are given.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
CST introduction relating to Foster Care
Foster care is a controversial issue that has been plaguing America for many years now.
Foster Care relates to the seven Catholic Social Teachings. This relates to Foster care because foster children deserve the right to live as well. They deserve to have respect. Call to family relates to Foster care because foster children deserve the same love as children with birth parents do. Rights and responsibilities relate to Foster care because foster children deserve the same rights as the children with birth parents do. The CST’s are representative of the Foster Care children should be treated.
Foster Care relates to the seven Catholic Social Teachings. This relates to Foster care because foster children deserve the right to live as well. They deserve to have respect. Call to family relates to Foster care because foster children deserve the same love as children with birth parents do. Rights and responsibilities relate to Foster care because foster children deserve the same rights as the children with birth parents do. The CST’s are representative of the Foster Care children should be treated.
CST # 1 Life and Dignity of a Human person
Life and Dignity of a Human person
The Catholic Church proclaims that the human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of the principles of our social teachings. Even though their birth parents didn’t care enough to love them, they put them in a foster home and eventually people will connect with them and adopt them and show them the love their birth parents did not show.
The Catholic Church proclaims that the human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of the principles of our social teachings. Even though their birth parents didn’t care enough to love them, they put them in a foster home and eventually people will connect with them and adopt them and show them the love their birth parents did not show.
CST # 2 Call to family, Community, and Participation
Call to family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics. The family is the central social institution that must support and strengthen the child. The foster care system is a good example of a call to family and community because all the kids share the same types of stories. They share the same types of stories because their parents use drugs or abuse themselves when the baby is in the womb.
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics. The family is the central social institution that must support and strengthen the child. The foster care system is a good example of a call to family and community because all the kids share the same types of stories. They share the same types of stories because their parents use drugs or abuse themselves when the baby is in the womb.
CST # 3 Rights and Responsibilities
Rights and Responsibilities,
The Catholic Church tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. The foster care system and its children has right’s and responsibilities too because they are still children and people deserve their rights even though they are in a foster home.
The Catholic Church tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. The foster care system and its children has right’s and responsibilities too because they are still children and people deserve their rights even though they are in a foster home.
CST #4 Option for the poor and vulnerable
Option for the poor and vulnerable,
A basic moral test is our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor. The foster care system helps the vulnerable because they bring them in to their system to help them get out of their struggles and give them a quality education they didn’t have previously.
A basic moral test is our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor. The foster care system helps the vulnerable because they bring them in to their system to help them get out of their struggles and give them a quality education they didn’t have previously.
CST # 5 The dignity of work and the rights of workers
The dignity of work and the rights of workers
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. In the foster care system the children have the right to work if they want to. Nobody can be forced to work. salvationist
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. In the foster care system the children have the right to work if they want to. Nobody can be forced to work. salvationist
Monday, May 3, 2010
CST # 6 Solidarity
Solidarity
We are our brothers and sister’s keepers, whenever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. In the foster care system, solidarity is a keep idea. All the foster children come together and unite because they come from similar background. They help each other through it because they know what each other are going through.
We are our brothers and sister’s keepers, whenever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. In the foster care system, solidarity is a keep idea. All the foster children come together and unite because they come from similar background. They help each other through it because they know what each other are going through.
CST # 7 Care for God's Creation
Care for God’s Creation
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an earth day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with God’s creation. The foster care system relates to taking care of God’s creation because he created us in his image and likeness. So taking care of his creation in the foster care system would be the same thing. Love the children who are in the system as if they were your own children. Give them the attention they need that their birthparents were unable to give. By showing foster children love and attention, it makes them feel wanted. Even though they might have been abused growing up, it still shows “care for God’s creation” when foster children are loved.
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an earth day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with God’s creation. The foster care system relates to taking care of God’s creation because he created us in his image and likeness. So taking care of his creation in the foster care system would be the same thing. Love the children who are in the system as if they were your own children. Give them the attention they need that their birthparents were unable to give. By showing foster children love and attention, it makes them feel wanted. Even though they might have been abused growing up, it still shows “care for God’s creation” when foster children are loved.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
narrative notes
Jennifer W.'s Adoption Story
• She told her parents October 2007
• She was 5 months pregnant
• She was 18 years old at the time
• Thought a college degree was more important than struggling to provide for her child
• She knew adoption was the right thing for her to do
• Wanted her baby to be as fortunate as she was
• Wanted her baby to have a loving family and she knows that won’t happen if she raised it
• Her mother called American adoptions and was connected to a social worker named Sarah
• She soon became a good friend
• Sarah gave her, her cell phone number and told her she can call her anytime
• They began talking almost everyday
• Sarah began calling and checking in on her doctor’s appointments
• Sarah sent her photos of the family who was going to adopt her baby
• The family who was going to adopt was named Brad and Diane
• She fell in love with Brad and Diane instantly
• Their first phone call was in January
• They were kind, compassionate, non-judgmental and understanding
• They called her their little “angel”
• They met at an Ihop and eventually became very goods friends
• They began to go to her doctor’s appointments as well
• Diane got to hear her daughter’s heartbeat for the first time
• Lauren Marie was born February 20th 2008
• Jenifer wanted Diane to cut the umbilical chord so it felt like it was her own child
• She told her parents October 2007
• She was 5 months pregnant
• She was 18 years old at the time
• Thought a college degree was more important than struggling to provide for her child
• She knew adoption was the right thing for her to do
• Wanted her baby to be as fortunate as she was
• Wanted her baby to have a loving family and she knows that won’t happen if she raised it
• Her mother called American adoptions and was connected to a social worker named Sarah
• She soon became a good friend
• Sarah gave her, her cell phone number and told her she can call her anytime
• They began talking almost everyday
• Sarah began calling and checking in on her doctor’s appointments
• Sarah sent her photos of the family who was going to adopt her baby
• The family who was going to adopt was named Brad and Diane
• She fell in love with Brad and Diane instantly
• Their first phone call was in January
• They were kind, compassionate, non-judgmental and understanding
• They called her their little “angel”
• They met at an Ihop and eventually became very goods friends
• They began to go to her doctor’s appointments as well
• Diane got to hear her daughter’s heartbeat for the first time
• Lauren Marie was born February 20th 2008
• Jenifer wanted Diane to cut the umbilical chord so it felt like it was her own child
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Famous People involved with Adoption
Faith Hill- adopted
Walt Disney - adoptive parent
Angelina Jolie- adoptive parent
Tom Cruise- adoptive parent
Bill Clinton- adopted
Dave Thomas- adoptive parent
Burt Reynolds- adoptive parent
Babe Ruth- adoptive parent
Diane Keaton- adoptive parent
John Lennon- adopted
Jesse Jackson- adopted
Walt Disney - adoptive parent
Angelina Jolie- adoptive parent
Tom Cruise- adoptive parent
Bill Clinton- adopted
Dave Thomas- adoptive parent
Burt Reynolds- adoptive parent
Babe Ruth- adoptive parent
Diane Keaton- adoptive parent
John Lennon- adopted
Jesse Jackson- adopted
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
This is bryan and zach and we are here to explain to you the advantages and disadvantages to the foster care system in America. We are also exploring what goes on after the children age out of the system. The link below we show you show you some of the struggles foster children go through on a daily basis.
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubBfXc3UOrw
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubBfXc3UOrw
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