Spending all summer in Washington DC, trying to advocate change for foster youth all of over the nation, is and will forever be one of the greatest memories in my life. I am a student at the University of Georgia and my major is Political Science. It is easy to see from my major that my passion is politics, so I felt right at home in Washington DC. I aspire to one day become a health policy legislative assistant for a Georgia U.S. Senator, and then dive further into politics as I grow older.
Currently, I am completing my third year at the UGA. I have been involved with several aspects of my campus, made numerous friends, and received a first class education. I am known as ‘that’ guy. ‘That’ guy who is involved in everything, ‘that’ guy who seems to be a natural leader, ‘that’ guy who loves life and his friends, and ‘that’ guy who has a firm foundation in his values and ethics.
FYI Highlight
Marjory Turner
FYI Class of 2006
After being told many times that I was worthless, I began to believe failure was my destiny. I began to believe I would be like the over 90% of youth in foster care who did not further their education. However, little did I know, God had other plans for my life, plans of prosperity, peace, and happiness. At the age of 76 (when most people retire) my pastor the late Dr. Helen L. Brown took on the task of raising a rejected and heartbroken teenager. Dr. Brown has been a mother, friend, chastener, counselor, and spiritual leader to me. With her encouragement I have spent the last three years researching child welfare issues particularly with respect to youth emancipating from foster care. My research on youth emancipating from foster care has been documented and quoted by foster care officials, college professors and community leaders. I have noticed from my research that minorities are over represented in foster care and far too many youth are leaving foster care without permanent homes. I have spoken to individuals in my state’s capital as well as our nation’s capital in regards to foster care reform.
My experience as a congressional intern through the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute has equipped me with the skills necessary to impact the lives of many youth on a macro level rather than a selected few on a micro level: while simultaneously providing me the opportunity to obtain a deeper knowledge of how to impact laws and policies in child welfare. As a result, I have started my own non-profit organization L.I.F.E. (Leading Individuals through the Foster care Experience) where our mission is to advocate for the overall well-being of youth in foster care, to promote normalcy, prevent the separation of siblings in order to strengthen sibling bonds, and to better prepare foster youth for life outside of foster care.
The Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program provides talented college students who have spent their formative years in foster care an opportunity to intern in a Congressional office for a summer.The FYI program instructs these young adults in how best to bring their unique perspective and resilient spirit to bear as advocates for the needs of other waiting children. The FYI Alumni Network now represents over 80 former interns who have used their FYI experience as a foundation for a wide variety of distinguished careers.
Almost half of a million children reside in the U.S. foster care system and 123,000 of these children are eligible for adoption. Many of these children spend their teenage years in the foster care system, moving from home to home but never finding permanency. In 2008, 29,500 young people “aged out” of the U.S. foster care system. Many are only 18 years old and still need support and services. Several foster care alumni studies show that without a lifelong connection to a caring adult, these older youth are often left vulnerable to a host of adverse situations.
By bringing together former foster youth with Congressional offices, CCAI helps raise attention to the policy and procedural barriers that trap children in the foster care system. The Congressional Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program facilitates the awareness needed to engage Members in reforming the system by uniting lawmakers and foster care veterans. These foster care veterans are children who were either adopted after the age of fourteen or who were in foster care on their eighteenth birthday. Each intern is provided regular interaction with Members of Congress and their staff, providing opportunities to share their unique perspectives on foster care. This interaction is instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of legislation that addresses the needs of foster children, as well as the unintended consequences of the system. After their time on Capitol Hill, the interns remain an instrumental link and resource to many Congressional offices. Some interns have even joined the Congressional staff after their internship.
The Congressional Foster Youth Internship program is also instrumental to empower and equip the interns to affect positive future change. They are given an inside look of the legislative process and the program encourages them to take an active role in developing policy suggestions. The program also helps the interns in job readiness and employment. These foster youth are more easily able to secure jobs after college due to enhanced skills and the professional recommendations gained from the FYI Program. The program gives these youth who face a severe vocational disadvantage with youths their own age equal opportunity to access positions in an arena they would have no prior admission. CCAI’s goal is to help these youth build their futures by gaining the experience, contacts, reaffirmation, and life skills they need to succeed.
Footage from the July 23, 2009 Briefing: Using Yesterday to Shape Tomorrow
Clip 1: Introduction
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Clip 2: Relationships
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Clip 3: Voices part1
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Clip 4: Voices part2
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Clip 5: Benefits and Education
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Clip 6: Closing
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Started in 2006 as a way to connect beyond their internship experience, the FYI Alumni Network serves as a way for past participants in the Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program to connect with one another. Through events and regular communication, the FYI Alumni Network operates much like an alumni association run by a college or university. On a regular basis, members of the Alumni Network are able to communicate with each other about their ideas for positive changes in the foster care system, project collaborations, social networking and much more. CCAI is also in communication with the Alumni Network each month with news about foster care and adoption legislation, project opportunities, and advice on improving the Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program.
ALUMNI NETWORK NEWS CCAI is looking for members of the Alumni Network to apply for the 2009 Foster Youth Internship Resident Assistant position. This position is critical to the success of the 2009 internship program. The Resident Assistant serves as an member of CCAI’s Program Department staff and is required to live on campus with the interns for the duration of the internship (May 23-July 21st). All interested former FYI participants, should contact Chelsea Cathcart (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) for an application for the position.
CCAI has distributed a survey to each member of the FYI Alumni Network to comment on how being a part of this program has affected your personal and career goals.To receive a copy of the survey or comment on your experience, please contact Chelsea Cathcart (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
).
We want to hear from you!Please confirm that CCAI has your correct email and mailing address so that you can continue to receive regular newsletters and other information from CCAI! Please send your contact information to Chelsea Cathcart (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
).
Spending all summer in Washington DC, trying to advocate change for foster youth all of over the nation, is and will forever be one of the greatest memories in my life. I am a student at the University of Georgia and my major is Political Science. It is easy to see from my major that my passion is politics, so I felt right at home in Washington DC. I aspire to one day become a health policy legislative assistant for a Georgia U.S. Senator, and then dive further into politics as I grow older. 
