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Michigan Youth Leadership Board Members Present Issues and Concerns to the Michigan Department of Human Services Officials
Members of the Michigan Youth
Board
Members of the Michigan Jim Casey Youth Leadership Board traveled to Lansing on October 11 to share 15 recommendations for helping young adults successfully transition from foster care with more than assembled 75 Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) administrators. Marianne Udow, director of DHS, and Jim Hennessey, deputy director for children's services, committed to implement these recommendations and to include young adults in the process.
State administrators met earlier with Susan Kelly and Shannon Brower of the Michigan Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative to talk about the Initiative's work, the Opportunity Passport™, and its link to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's "Family to Family" Initiative. Ann Jefferson, consultant for the national Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, explained the expectations of the Initiative and the importance of sustaining the work in the communities across Michigan.
Marianne Udow
The young adults also gathered earlier that morning to discuss how to present their recommendations to legislators and state administrators. Mona Perdue, Wayne County youth board member, stated, "It is important that we give an effective presentation to these officials so that they know we are serious about improving the system and wanting to help them find solutions to problems."
The young people and administrators met each other over lunch. Immediately afterward, the presentation began with Shawn Semelsberger of the Northern Michigan Board and Mona Perdue serving as facilitators. Two young adults presented the recommendations and a personal statement about each. "We just need a chance, be it good or bad," said Jessica Oakley of the Northern Michigan Board.
Youth board members then went to the Michigan State Capitol to discuss the issues of youth in foster care with their legislators. "This is just the start of some great work soon to come," said Susan Kelly, site coordinator of the Initiative.
View the youths' 15 recommendations. (PDF, 467KB)
