August 14, 2015
Do you, or someone you know, have a story to share about life in foster care? If so, Children’s Rights would love to hear it.
Children’s Rights is now accepting submissions for its 4th annual Fostering the Future campaign. The blog-a-day initiative, which takes place during National Foster Care Awareness Month, highlights the first-hand accounts of people who have experienced state care. Those interested in participating should email communications@childrensrights.org.
Past bloggers have used their stories to expose people across the country to the realities of foster care, and to inspire others still in state care.
“Giving young people the opportunity to reveal their experiences to the world is a profound and revolutionary thing,” said 2015 blogger Kristopher Sharp. “Fostering the Future provides youth who have been involved with the foster care system an important platform to educate the public while simultaneously giving them a forum to share their own truths.”
Julius Kissinger, of Ohio, called the chance to participate in the campaign “incredible.” “I chose to do this not only to share my story, but to inform people who are, or have gone through, similar struggles that there is hope, there is always hope,” he said.
Catherine Konold, of Utah, said even though she was a little nervous to tell her foster care story, “I knew that it could help kids in similar situations.”
The project calls for people to submit a blog post of up to 750 words along with a high-resolution photo. The blog should, in some way, shape or form, address the following:
“How did going through foster care affect your life? Based on your experience, do you think foster care should change?”
If they wish, writers may want to consider addressing:
- What they would say to other kids going through foster care
- Who influenced them while they were in foster care
- What are their best and/or worst memories of foster care
- Any details about aging out of foster care, such as how it felt, how they were prepared to live on their own and where they went next
- Any other issues related to foster care that they personally find important
Children’s Rights encourages a creative approach. As each person, and his or her experience, is unique, there is no template for the blogs. And while CR works to reform foster care, the organization strives to include all perspectives in Fostering the Future, including those who found their experiences to be positive and beneficial. The blogs, which will be promoted via CR’s Facebook and Twitter pages, will be housed on the organization’s website.
Blogs will be edited for length and clarity and submitting a blog does not guarantee it will be used.
If you have any questions, please email communications@childrensrights.org. You can check out blog posts from previous participants at http://fosteringthefuture.com.