Survey for Youth
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Juvenile Law Center are looking for youth to answer a quick survey about mental health services and counseling. The information is anonymous and will help to improve services for youth and young adults. Please take a moment to complete the survey by clicking on this link - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T5SD9YY
Moving the YAB Forward
Youth officers and partners of the statewide YAB will be getting together on June 29th and June 30th for a strategic planning session. The YAB will discuss our goals for the next year and how we want to get there. We’re asking that ALL YAB members answer the following questions before the event so we can plan better:
- What needs of yours are not being met by the system?
- If the YAB was doing everything it could be doing and perfect, what would that look like?
- What are you concerns with the YAB and how it operates now?
- How would you change the YAB to deal with those concerns?
- What is your #1 priority for the YAB over the next year?
“Like” the Pennsylvania YAB on Facebook
Make sure you join our Facebook page, tell your friends, and post articles or other comments to the YAB. You can view the Facebook page here http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Pennsylvania-Youth-Advisory-Board/371359021197?ref=ts.
Update on Fostering Connections
Check out the YAB website – www.independentlivingpa.org – for information about the results of our campaign to advocate for Secretary Dichter to accept options benefitting youth and young adults in Pennsylvania’s child welfare system. We received over 750 signatures in support of our recommendations to Secretary Dichter. Secretary Dichter agrees with our recommendations but is unfortunately not able to take the options now because of the bad economy. You can read Secretary Dichter’s letter to the YAB on the website.
Higher Education and Special Education
Are you currently receiving special education services or do you have an IEP? Here’s a website for youth with any disabilities going on to higher education - http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/504.asp. The rules change once you get to college or trade school so be sure to check out this link and get prepared.
New Legislation
At the last State YAB meeting (May 6), Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC) shared briefly about the Children in Foster Care Act – HB 2338. They also noted a piece of adoption legislation, but at the time of the meeting the bill had not yet been introduced. Senate Bill 1360 was introduced the following week, and information about this piece of legislation can be found on PPC’s website: http://www.porchlightproject.org/public_policy.shtml
SB 1360 would change Pennsylvania’s adoption law so children and youth who are adopted could in some cases maintain ongoing contact with birth relatives. This would help preserve connections children and youth have with siblings, birth parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents; and also provide them the benefit of becoming part of a permanent family through adoption. This ongoing contact would be spelled out in a post-adoption contact agreement. Please consider learning more about these important pieces of legislation related to the foster care system. Both bills, the Children in Foster Care Act – HB 2338 and post adoption contact agreement legislation – SB 1360 are currently awaiting action by the Senate. |
