Special Topics
"Aging Out" Screening Highlights
- Atlanta, GA
- Detroit, MI
- Indianapolis, IN-Co-Investment/Connected by 25 Site
- Kansas City, MO/KS
- Nashville, TN
- Des Moines, IA
- San Diego, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Providence, RI
- Denver, CO
- Other Sites
Atlanta, GA
The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta/the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Opportunities Initiative (MAYOI) hosted a screening of the excerpt "Daniella's Story," from the documentary Aging Out during the Pathways to Adulthood Conference sponsored by the National Resources Center for Youth Services in Atlanta on May 19, 2005. Over 200 conference participants attended this screening, after which Daniella Rin Hover spoke about her transition from foster care. Members of the MAYOI Youth Board also spoke about their experiences and their ongoing efforts to work with community members and other youth in care to make life better for youth transitioning in the Atlanta metro area.
Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Opportunities Initiative Youth Board Members
with Daniella Rin Hover
On May 26, 2005 (the national air date of Aging Out) the Community Foundation and MAYOI partnered with Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Georgia Department of Human Resources for a special night of programming entitled, "Foster Care: Making a Difference in Georgia." Throughout the evening of programming, viewers were able to call a special toll-free phone number for information about how to become involved in the foster care system and statewide foster care resources. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Human Resources staffed the phones in the Georgia Public Broadcasting studios. A total of 140 calls were received with 29 calls being directly related to "Aging Out." Three calls involved mentoring teens and one regarded donating clothes. Four people volunteered to provide employment opportunities for MAYOI Youth Leadership Board members.
Georgia First Lady Mary Perdue discussed the work that she has done to improve the lives of foster children, and B. J. Walker, commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, talked about her vision for the Division of Family and Children Services. Lesley Grady, vice president of the Community Foundation, discussed MAYOI. Two MAYOI participants told compelling stories of their personal transitions from foster care to adulthood.
Detroit, MI
Dominique Hutcherson - Wayne Co. Youth
Board; Daniel G. Mulhern, First Gentleman,
State of Michigan; Kay Beard, Commissioner,
Wayne County.
On Wednesday, May 25, 2005, the Detroit (Wayne County) Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative and Youth Board hosted a reception co-sponsored by and held at the Detroit headquarters of Blue Cross/Blue Shield to talk about the needs of youth aging out of foster care. A clip of a local program that spotlighted youth in Detroit leaving care was shown, along with a portion of the Aging Out documentary.
Over 300 people attended the event. The goal of the event was to find mentors and volunteers for youth transitioning from care. Jessica Lindsey, a member of the National Foster Youth Advisory Council and president of the local youth board, served as the emcee. Dan Mulhern, husband of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, who have both served as mentors, spoke about the positive effects of mentoring on young adults. Of the 300 people that attended, more than 100 submitted cards indicating their willingness to help young adults by providing such services as job shadowing.
Michigan DHS Commissioner Marianne Udow
and Gary Stangler, Executive Director of the
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
During the airing of Aging Out the following night (May 26), volunteers staffed a phone bank at the local PBS station. Eighty people called in to volunteer to be mentors, and an additional 20 sent e-mails to the Initiative asking how they could be involved.
On June 2, 2005, Marianne Udow, director of the Department of Human Services, sent a letter to all of the DHS offices in which she thanked participants for their help and encouraged others to volunteer to hold screenings and recruit mentors. The Detroit events received outstanding press coverage, including an article by columnist Laura Berman, an Op-Ed by Marianne Udow, and related stories in the Detroit Free Press on May 25 and May 27, 2005.
Indianapolis, IN-Co-Investment/Connected by 25 Site
The United Way of Central Indiana and the local PBS Station WFYI hosted "Aging Out: Building Supports for Foster Youth," on Thursday, May 5, 2005 at the North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Approximately 130 people attended. "Daniella's Story," an excerpt from the full length documentary, Aging Out, was shown, and Daniella Anderson Rin Hover, the youth featured in the excerpt, spoke about the challenges that she has faced after leaving care. She advocated for better supports for the system, more mentors in the community, and for the recruitment of foster parents with a sincere desire to help youth who may have experienced trauma.
A panel discussion followed featuring James Payne, commissioner of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration; Dan Carmine, director of the Marion County (Indianapolis) Office of Family and Children; Christine Glancy, vice president of Community Building for United Way of Central Indiana, and Gary Stangler, executive director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative. Members of the audience raised many questions, including the impact of budget cuts on the state system and the flexibility of Chafee funds.
Gary Stangler featured with Indiana Commissioner of the
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
James Payne and Christine Glancy, vice president of
Community Building for United Way of Central Indiana.
Results from the survey after the event indicate that:
- 27% were child welfare agency staff; 21% were educators, 13% were youth development specialists, and 10% were foster parents.
- 46% described themselves as very knowledgeable about youth aging out of foster care.
- 41% said that the session had helped them understand more about the status of youth at the local, state and national levels.
- 57% said they would like to become involved in implementing Connected by 25 in Indianapolis.
- 70% identified the presentation by Daniella Anderson Rin Hover as the highlight of the session.
Kansas City, MO/KS
Missouri Director of the Children's
Division Fred Simmens and Daniella
Rin Hover.
The Local INvestment Commission (LINC) conducted a screening of the full documentary Aging Out in partnership with the local PBS affiliate KCPT on Monday May 23, 2005. The event was held at Screenland Theatre and co-hosted by the Kansas City Youth Board "Voices of the Century." Immediately following the screening, KCPT Public Affairs Director Nick Haines moderated a panel discussion featuring Daniella Anderson Rin Hover (depicted in the film); LaToya Taylor, a Kansas City resident who was formerly in care;
Gary Stangler, executive director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiatives; Fred Simmens, director of the Missouri Department of Social Services-Children's Division; Ginger Bouza, independent living coordinator for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services; and Lori Ross of Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association.
Earlier that day, participants from the Voices of the Century Youth Board, LINC staff members, and Gary Stangler discussed youth transitioning from care on a show broadcast by the local NPR station. As a result of this broadcast, the Aging Out screening, and the actual airing of the documentary, ten people have contacted LINC to ask about being mentors for youth.
Nashville, TN
Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, Tipper Gore,
and Andy Shookhoff
The Aging Out Screening and Panel Discussion was held on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at the Downtown Nashville Public Library. The event was sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Children and Youth; Nashville Public Television; Fostering Results, a national public education and awareness effort focused on issues affecting children in foster care, and our grantee, the Vanderbilt Child and Family Policy Center (VIPPS).
Members of the Tennessee Youth Advisory Council (TYAC) served as hosts of the event, gave introductions and participated in the panel discussion. Mayor Bill Purcell welcomed everyone to the gathering and thanked the Initiative for choosing Nashville and helping raise the awareness of the Nashville community about the plight of youth transitioning from care. Tipper Gore, an advocate for families and children and wife of former Vice President Al Gore, talked about the purpose of the event and some of the issues that young adults face when leaving the system, and introduced "Daniella's Story," an excerpt from the documentary Aging Out.
Immediately following "Daniella's Story," Tipper Gore and Andy Shookhoff, Associate Director of VIPPS, moderated a panel discussion. Featured on the panel were Viola Miller, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services; Anidolee Chester, the department's director of independent living, and Jane Fleishman, director of youth leadership development of the Oasis Center (one of the Nashville sustainability partners). The TYAC members who were featured were LaQuinta Carter, Michelle Crowley, Chegameh Korvandi-Geledar, Colonel Robbins, Stacey Schumaker, Danny Sutton, and TYAC Alumni Katy Valesky.
The following outcomes resulted from this community event:
- At least 200 community leaders, youth, foster parents, and other attended.
- Ten potential mentors were identified.
- Two companies called with interest in employing youth.
- A local news station (Channel 5) did a story on the event and expressed an interest in developing future stories.
Panel members included Katy Valesky, Chey Kovandi-Geledar, and TN Commissioner of Children's Services Viola Miller
- The local newspaper (The Tennessean) published an article on the event that raised public awareness about the issue and the screening of "Aging Out."
- The documentary aired in Nashville on Thursday, May 26, 2005, and was preceded by a locally made film on youth transitioning from care in Nashville.
Des Moines, IA
The airing of AGING OUT in Iowa took place on the actual day/time of the national airing – May 26th, 9-10:30pm. The following activities were facilitated by the local Initiative:
- Iowa Public Television (IPTV) and the Teen Line were key partners in coordinating and facilitating activities. Teen Line is a statewide information and referral resource for teens in the state of Iowa (run by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa State University Extension)
- Outreach to inform the general public as well as a variety of human service and juvenile justice professionals was undertaken. An e-vite was created by IPTV and sent out to individuals throughout the state of Iowa. Key to this outreach was the number of partnering organizations that allowed, or took upon themselves, to send the e-vite out via their e-mail lists (including Chief Juvenile Court Officers, Service Area Managers of Department of Human Services, Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development, Iowa Coalition for Children and families in Iowa, Making Connections/Human Service Planning Alliance, and others)
- The Teen Line allowed their 1-800 line to be used as a resource during the showing, and during the following days after the showing. This included having the Teen Line number publicized during the airing of the film via regular scrolling of the number at the bottom of the television screen.
- The Teen Line staff collaborated with IPTV and Moving On Up! personnel to "script" out the expected calls that would result from the showing of the film. A meeting/training took place beforehand as well to ensure coordination
- The Iowa Department of Human Services "Transition Planning Specialists" were notified as to the airing of AGING OUT as well as the use of the Teen Line. These DHS workers cover the entire state of Iowa and were the key referral source for the Teen Line in the event that a call was received regarding a young person still in the care of the "system" in order to respond accordingly with transition information and resources
- The Iowa Aftercare Services Network (IASN), the current provider of services for young persons that have aged out of care, was likewise notified as to the airing of AGING OUT as well as the use of the Teen Line. The Teen Line currently functions as the information/referral coordinator for IASN so the need to make adjustments to the current flow of referrals was minimal
- IPTV enabled web access from their own website to other key internet sites for viewers interested in more information. The JCYOI webpage and the resources listed there were highlighted.
- During the beginning, "intermission" and at the end of the broadcast, an IPTV spokesperson had brief times to speak directly to the viewing audience. The spokesperson shared relevant facts on the numbers of Iowa youth impacted, and problems faced, as they "age out" of the Iowa foster care system. These "factoids" were used with the intention of outlining the issues in Iowa more forcefully. The number to the Teen Line was given during these times as well with encouragement to call for help or more information.
San Diego, CA
The San Diego Youth Initiative co-presented with a former foster youth at an in house KPBS community pre-screening of the Aging Out documentary on May 15, 2005. The audience included KPBS staff, community members, and students of the San Diego State University. The effort proved to be a success in the connections made with the KPBS staff, students, and community members at the viewing.
The following outcomes were obtained:
- The SDSU staff was interested in further collaboration embracing the efforts of the Initiative and referring youth to the program.
- Attendees that work with foster youth are tightening collaborative efforts to ensure non-duplicative services and enhanced outcomes for foster youth. Since the event, the County Deputy Director of Children's Services has become a member of our Community Partners Board and links to the Legal Aid Society, County ILS Coordinator and San Diego State University Foster Youth Advocate have been established.
- Recruitment of KPBS as a Community Partnership Board membership
- Two Door Openers were volunteered. Referrals for SDYI youth for low cost dental services and a connection to the Abilities4FosterYouth Resource Hub. The hub is a developing for former foster youth, and their supporters, to gain access to a unified, central, and organized community resource. This entity will provide thorough knowledge and understanding of all resource opportunities and supports available to emancipated foster youth, including eligibility requirements.
San Antonio, TX
The San Antonio, TX Community Partnership Board and the local PBS Station KLRN hosted a screening June 8, 2005 of Aging Out at the University of Texas-San Antonio downtown campus. Over 85 people attended, including social workers, Child Protective Services (CPS) staff, foster parents, foster youth, UT- San Antonio staff, concerned community people, local workforce people (Workforce Investment Board), City of San Antonio employees and one of the local CPS judges. There were resource booths set up for the youth attendees to take advantage of the information provided before and after the screening and discussion.
KLRN created and distributed a Transitional Living Resource Kit (a bound book) for young adults with information on the following categories:
- Education
- Scholarships/Training Vouchers
- Job Skills
- Health
- Housing/Transportation
- Helpful Numbers/Other Information
As a result of this screening, the Coordinator of Field Education from the Department of Social Work at the University of Texas - San Antonio inquired about available internships for young adults on the youth board with the Department.
Providence, RI
Providence, RI had a full-scale campaign on the issue of youth transitioning from care and had several screenings of documentary Aging Out. Rather than the half-hour panel discussion that they originally planned, the local PBS station expanded their production to one FULL hour. The first half featured a foster youth, a foster parent, a member from the Work Opportunities Unlimited, Inc., a volunteer from a mentor program and a child psychologist. The second 30-minutes included a range of professionals that addressed many of the challenges and local resources available throughout the state. They also had a live telephone bank during the showing to take calls and make referrals. Transit posters were placed in ten different bus stations throughout the state promoting the documentary as well.
Denver, CO
The Denver Mile High United Way conducted a local screening of Aging Out May 4, 2005 in partnership with the Office of the Child's Representative, and the local PBS station. This documentary brought together over 250 key stakeholders within the community, including 40 young adults in, or formerly in care. This event served as the foundation for subsequent activities during the upcoming months that include public awareness, recruitment for Opportunity Passport™ participants and Door Openers.
On May 13, 2005 a presentation by Mile High United Way/Bridging the Gap and viewing of Aging Out was hosted by the Colorado Department of Human Services for all Adolescent Supervisors from the 64 counties of human/social services in Colorado. As a result, Bridging the Gap is supporting 6 Departments of Human Services in creating site specific activities for agency staff, youth and volunteers.
Other Sites
Hartford, CT did not have a screening before the air date of the documentary, but is working with the local PBS station to produce short vignettes about youth transitioning from care. These stories will air before the end of the year.
The documentary did not air in Maine, but public information around the event led a significant employer in Bangor to convene a meeting w/ his pastor, other church members and Maine Youth Opportunity Initiative staff to discuss participation in the "friends of youth in care networks," a yr 2 connections project.
Tampa, FL held a screening with the local PBS station. Immediately following the screening was a panel discussion on the Connected by 25 (the (Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative co-investment project) work and how the community can get involved.
