Mason McFalls, FYI 2008

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.

Lisa Foehner

FYI Class of 2003

At age 23 just months after I graduated from college, I was selected to participate in the 2003 flagship Foster Youth Internship program with Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). It was truly was a unique opportunity for me share my story and my experience with federal lawmakers.  During the internship I worked for US Senator Mary Landrieu in her office on Capitol Hill. I also participated in a Pew Commission on Foster Care focus group related to the federal financing and court oversight of foster care. I met with our nations leaders and joined them in press conferences in the US Capitol, and worked side by side with legislative staff on adoption casework. I did a little copying, and faxing too.

In just 6 short weeks of a summer internship program I forged personal relationships with others who shared my passion for improving the outcomes of foster youth. I received the most positive and supportive feedback I’d ever been given about my potential, my future and my ability to succeed. I gained fellowship from the CCAI staff and other interns, and met with advocates who knew my battles, and who wanted to keep fighting them for the thousands of other kids who age out of foster care each year without a forever family.

After the internship I used my new relationships to stay in Washington for a few years. I worked full time on the legislative staff for Senator Landrieu as well as a grant coordinator for Orphan Foundation of America. Since then I’ve returned to my home in St. Louis, dabbled in graduate school, worked in local government, and on the staff of another United States Senator, Claire McCaskill. While professionally I am no longer involved in foster care, I continue to be involved in National Adoption Day, Angels in Adoption, National Care Package Day and other local foster care advocacy efforts.

It’s been 12 years since I aged out of foster care. I’m happy to report that I’m doing alright. I’m 31 now, newly married, just bought my first home and even started my own business.  Just last week a colleague of mine emailed me an encouraging article about foster youth. It made me happy that he thought of me, and that he made a connection. That’s what advocacy is all about. Making positive connections.

The Congressional Foster Youth Internship (FYI) 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.

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 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.  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 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.  CCAI’s goal is to help these youth build their futures by gaining the experience, contacts, reaffirmation, and life skills they need to succeed.  Here are some ways this program has forever impacted the success of these youth:

• Over 80 FYI Alumni have used their FYI experience as a foundation to go on and pursue a wide variety of distinguished careers

• 60 Members of Congress have benefitted directly from the program

• FYI’s 10 Briefings have provided firsthand knowledge to federal policymakers

• 1 FYI testified before House Ways and Means Committee hearing and spoke about his experience aging out of foster care

• 37% of FYIs have pursued graduate, law, and doctoral degrees
  

Foster Youth Internship Policy Reports

2009 Foster Youth Internship Report, "Using Yesterday to Shape Tomorrow: Uniting 500,000 Foster Youth Voices for One Mission"

2008 Foster Youth Internship Report: "Putting the 'Foster' Back Into Foster Care: Recommendations for Improving Foster Care and Adoption"