The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program is a competitive, highly esteemed Congressional Internship for young adults who were in U.S. foster care at the time of their eighteenth birthday or who were adopted after their fourteenth birthday from the U.S. foster care system. All applicants must be enrolled in college and have completed 4 semesters by May 29, 2010. The 2010 program will place 16 academically successful college students in the Washington, D.C. offices of Members of Congress. The dates for the 2010 Congressional Foster Youth Internship are set as May 29 - July 31, 2010.
About the Program
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit created by Congress, started the FYI program in 2003 to raise awareness on Capitol Hill about the needs and unique perspectives of young adults in the United States aging out of foster care. Every year, Congressional Members partner with CCAI to “match” an eligible intern to an eight-week internship in their Washington, D.C. office. Every effort is made to place interns in the region of the country where they reside permanently. Interns are given a real-world experience in a Congressional office, complete with professional training, as well as a retreat coordinated by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
The FYI Program is made possible through the generous support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Typical substantive duties of a Congressional Foster Youth Intern:
- Work directly with legislative correspondents and legislative assistants to research issues and compose correspondence.
- Attend committee hearings, sit in on meetings, attend press conferences, and take notes.
- Work on small legislative projects.
- Constituent services.
- Attend and serve at Congressional briefings and meetings, including events organized by CCAI for the members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (Congress’ Adoption Caucus).
Typical administrative duties of a Congressional Foster Youth Intern:
- Open, sort, and deliver incoming mail.
- Answer phones, greet constituents, run errands, deliver priority letters, and acquire Congressional signatures.
- Copying, filing, faxing, and data entry.
The nine-week internship is a full-time work experience. Interns are paid a small stipend that will cover daily expenses. The CCAI FYI program pays major expenses such as transportation to Washington, D.C., housing, and transportation to and from internship activities. Interns must live in Washington, D.C. for the full duration of the program, including residing with the internship class at the provided Washington, D.C. university.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria
- The applicant was in U.S. foster care system at the time of their eighteenth birthday or be adopted after their fourteenth birthday from the U.S. foster care system.
and
- The applicant has completed at least two years of college in a four-year degree program.
Good writing and research skills accompanied by an interest in the legislative process are required, and students in every degree program are encouraged to apply.
College Credit
Many colleges and universities allow students to obtain academic credit for internships. Please check with your academic advisor to determine if you are eligible to receive academic credit for a Capitol Hill internship.
About the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
Did you know that until 1975, most States discouraged or directly prohibited foster parents from being considered as potential adoptive parents becoming too attached to children who may ultimately be returned to their biological families. Thanks to the educational efforts of advocates, policymakers soon learned that these well meaning laws and policies were, in effect, hindering children from finding a safe, loving and permanent home of their own. So, instead they put in place laws, policies and programs aimed at promoting foster adoption and today 67% of children adopted out of foster care are adopted by their foster parents.
This is just one of the many examples of how law and policy can serve as a barrier to children realizing their basic right to a family. Realzing that federal policymakers had the power to overcome such barriers, in 2001, advocates for the world's oprhaned and foster youth formed the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). In founding CCAI, these advocates sought to match Members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoptoin's commitment to finding a home for every child with the information and resources needed to make that dream a reality. Since that time, CCAI has strived to be an objective resource for information critical to advancing the efforts of federal policymakers on behalf of children. Through its five core program, CCAI's goal is to educate federal policymakers about the need for reform; coordinate Congressional and community efforts to bring about change and facilitate opportunities for communication and awareness.
Mission Statement: The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family. |
