Move-In Kits for Youth Transitioning out of Foster Care
Ready for Life was awarded grant funds from Lazydays Partner Foundation to purchase items for youth transitioning out of foster care. Ready for Life staff and interns went to IKEA and Wal-Mart to purchase 5 move-in kits, which included the following items: hampers, dinnerware, glassware, silverware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, measuring cups and spoons, storage containers, cookie sheet, cutting board, towels, bathroom items, full bed sets with comforter, and pillows.
Thank you so much Lazydays Partners Foundation!
Youth Council Pot Luck
Calling all foster care youth 16 – 24 years old!
Come join us on Friday, April 2nd, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Ready for Life for our youth council meeting. Bring your favorite dish representing your cultural background and come to have fun, meet other youth and help make a difference in our community! For more information contact Michelle Mageras at 727-642-2470
Journal Project 2010
Are you a 17 year old youth in foster care soon to be 18?
Are you willing to share your thoughts & experiences as you prepare to be on your own?
Are you interested in earning up to $400 to participate in an 8 week project around your 18th birthday?
If so, Ready for Life wants to talk with you about participating in an exciting project!
Bay News 9 Every Day Hero
On March 1, 2010, Nicole Marchman, RFL Intern from USF, was featured on Bay News 9 as the Everyday Hero
To look at Nicole Marchman today, you would never know this confident 28-year-old USF student had a very difficult childhood. "I told my counselors and teachers that I was being abused but nothing happened. I basically advocated for myself. One day I came home, and I thought it was my dad coming home, so I ran in my room and hid underneath my bed, but it was someone from social services. She knocked on the door, had a garbage bag in her hand and she said 'Pack your stuff you are leaving.'"
At 11 years old, Nicole entered the foster care system for the second time. Back then, there was no one to fight for her. When her younger sisters needed a caretaker Nicole stepped up and fought to get custody of them. The same judge that knew us from foster care is the same one that gave me custody."
Nicole is on a mission to keep other kids from being in that similar situation. She works as an intern with "Ready for Life." Kathy Mize is the executive director and has seen Nicole's passion first hand. Kathy says, "She's committed to using what she knows and continuing to learn and give back so that she can make a difference in this area." The non-profit group helps prepare youth for the transition out of foster care. Having gone through it herself, Nicole brings a unique perspective to this internship and RFL. This summer Nicole will go to Washington, DC to participate in an internship program with the Congressional Coalition Institute on Adoption.
Nicole says, "I think that Florida is way behind in the foster care system and making sure youth are prepared before they leave is one of my big reasons why I'm advocating."
Nicole will graduate in May with her degree in Social Work and is hoping to obtain her Masters Degree in Social Work and Public Administration from FSU.
Nicole received many words of encourage from this article…here are some of the comments:
Nicole - this is amazing! YOU are amazing! I really look forward to meeting you.
Could I send your story to the Marketing person for our College? She is looking for inspiring stories to put on the website. Also, your story is so inspirational for kinship caregivers. You raised your siblings!!! -USF School of Social Work, Dr. S.
Congrats Nicole! This AND the award - you are pretty amazing! - USF Director of Student Life & Engagement
Nicole, I'm very proud of you and very happy to have the chance to meet such a wonderful and inspiring human being as you are. Your story is an example of determination and hope. You are living proof of the resiliency of the human spirit! –Professor
Congressional Coalition Institute on Adoption - Nicole Marchman, 2010 Foster Youth Intern, was featured in a news story. The article talks about her life growing up in the foster care system. Congrats Nicole. When foster youth step to the mic, people stop and listen. So let's let them talk and talk and talk until the system is set right.
So proud of you :) what an accomplishment. Congrats Nicole, you deserve it!! That is what true social work is about!:)
I saw the BN9 feature story on you…my heart swelled with pride for you. What an
amazing, bright, kind and loving woman you are. I feel quite blessed to have the opportunity to work for you to help you accomplish God’s work. - Bright house network
FOSTER YOUTH SUMMIT
Sponsored by: Junior League Clearwater-Dunedin
Ages 15 - 18
Saturday, March 27, 2010
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
SPC – Clearwater Campus
2465 Drew St.
Clearwater, FL 33765
TO SIGN UP
Contact Your
Independent Living Specialist
OR
Call 727-593-0003 x1122
Everyday Hero
Monday, March 1st, Nicole Marchman, one of our USF interns and a former foster youth, will be featured on Bay News 9 as an "Everyday Hero". Nicole has been selected to attend the Congressional Foster Youth Institute in Washing DC for nine weeks this summer. There will also be some coverage on Ready for Life! It will begin airing at 5:53 a.m. and then air at :53 past the hour each hour until 4:53 p.m.
Check out the article here
Ready for Life is Hiring
Ready for Life is now hiring a Youth Leader.
Read Click Here to read the job description.
Click Here to download the application.
Completed applications can be emailed to mmageras@yahoo.com.