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The youth-written stories in Represent give inspiration and information to teens in foster care while offering staff insight into those teens’ struggles.
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Aging Out (32 found)
Note: These stories are from Represent and its sister publication, YCteen, which is written by New York City public high school students.
The author, who has a son, doesn't learn until she's 19 that she doesn't have a green card. She scrambles to get that before she ages out. (full text)
Sharlene does everything right as she prepares to age out. But things go wrong with her housing, benefits, and college, through no fault of her own. (full text)
A report from Columbia Law School's Adolescent Representation Clinic offers housing solutions for youth aging out of care in New York City. (full text)
Vanessa lives with relatives, friends, in group homes, in an office, in supportive housing, and finally in a market-rate apartment with friends, which is her favorite set-up. (full text)
When J.G. finally gets her own apartment at age 22, she thinks everything's finally OK. Instead, her years in care haunt her. (full text)
Psychotherapists Sylvia Lester and Marina Stolerman of The Fostering Connection give tips on how to make a house or apartment a home and how to live on your own. (full text)
The author invites a pregnant friend and two small children to live with her, giving them her bedroom. It does not work out. (full text)
The author was physically and emotionally abused. When she ages out of care, she finds that years of being put down keep her from going after work or college. (full text)
The author, who has a son, doesn't learn until she's 19 that she doesn't have a green card. She scrambles to get that before she ages out. (full text)
Awilda thanks her social worker Mayra for her advocacy, her encouragement, and for going the extra mile. (full text)
Jazmine interviews the Commissioner of New York's Administration for Children's Services. Commissioner Carrión talks about how to improve social-emotional well-being for youth in care, jobs, and housing. (full text)
Shannon Cleary of the Morningside Heights Legal Services Clinic summarizes the Clinic's upcoming report suggesting ways to help youth aging out get housing. (full text)
Anthony had a rough childhood and often retreated into daydreams to escape abuse. As he grows up, he pushes himself to live more in reality. (full text)
The author recounts the scary countdown to turning 21 with her work hours being cut, her public housing not ready, and her foster mother's commitment shaky. (full text)
Lavell shares her experience of applying for, then choosing between low-income public housing and supportive housing for mentally ill New Yorkers. (full text)
After a teen colleague calls him "unprofessional," Desmin decides that his street style doesn't work in the office. (full text)
Chimore and her dog Prissy have a special bond that's helped Chimore adjust to life after foster care (full text)
Quotesia interviews Mario Mazzoni at the Metropolitan Council, an NYC tenants' rights organization, and finds that the housing crunch is hitting poor people the hardest. (full text)
Samantha finally gets her own place in a Supported Independent Living Program (SILP). A few months later, ACS closes SILPs and she has to go back to living with a foster parent. (full text)
Chimore breaks down the rewards and hazards of having a credit card. (full text)
Chimore wants to have a good credit history because she's about to age out of foster care. Then she finds out that her identity has been stolen and fraudulent credit card accounts opened in her name. (full text)
Lured by the ease of getting a credit card, Xavier runs up a huge debt after he leaves foster care. He has since been able to get his finances under better control, although he still owes money. Reprinted from FCYU-2001-07-22. (full text)
The college application process can be intimidating; Debra offers some advice that can help. (full text)
Overview of the issue on adulthood, emphasizing the social and emotional learning core competencies as the foundation of healthy maturity. (full text)
Chantal describes both the benefits and pitfalls of having a bank account. (full text)
When a fellow resident ages out into homelessness, Michael resolves to make a plan for himself. (full text)
Ja'Nelle was babied in foster care—staff did her laundry and cooked for her. Her independent living classes were a joke. She wishes she had been taught the skills she needs to function successfully in the real world. (full text)
Xavier racks up $2,100 in credit card debt before deciding to take control of his finances. (full text)
When Aurora enters a foster home she expects her foster mother to cook for her, but soon finds out she's expected to make her own meals. The other girls in the home teach Aurora to cook, and in the process she forms friendships with women her age for the first time. (full text)
When Tamecka goes away to college, she begins missing classes and failing exams, and her first inclination is to blame her foster care background. (full text)
Sharif faces impatient customers, uncooperative cash registers, and self-doubts during his first day at work. (full text)
DeAnna writes about her life during the four years following her high school graduation and her journey toward independence. She learns it is a meandering road. (full text)
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