Family and Youth Initiative

 

DCFYI Orientation
Monday, May 17

Learn more or take the next step to being a mentor, weekend host parent, adoptive parent, or event driver.

RSVP from the website calendar.

 

 

During National Volunteer Week we shared tributes to incredible DCFYI volunteers who give so much of themselves and impact the lives of teens in foster care. On the DCFYI blog you can read a summary of those youth tributes to adults DCFYI has brought into their lives.

 

Room and board along with tuition waivers could make a big difference for foster youth attending college in Georgia.

Teen gets adopted by former case manager.

Guidance for parents interested in adopting children from a different race or cultural background.

State foster care agencies take millions of dollars owed to children in their care.

 

DCFYI seeks volunteers to serve on our Board Development/Recruitment and Fundraising committees.

 

Help us expand DCFYI's reach and find more adoptive parents for wonderful teens. Like our social media pages and comment and share posts so other people will see them.

Thank you!

 

 

Your support means more teens in foster care will have lifelong connections with caring adults and find adoptive families.

Connecting teens, creating families, changing lives

National Foster Care Month and always

In his National Foster Care Month proclamation, President Biden acknowledges the disparities and harm caused by some child welfare practices, including that:

Black and Native American children are far more likely than white children to be removed from their homes, even when the circumstances surrounding the removal are similar. Once removed, Black and Native American children stay in care longer and are less likely to either reunite with their birth parents or be adopted.

With this focus, the Biden Administration is proposing 2022 funding for projects that will reduce the number of children removed from their families and placed in foster care unnecessarily.

At the other end of the foster care spectrum are those older children who are not returning home and still want family. Older children are disproportionately represented in the children "waiting" for adoption. They are more likely to remain in foster care until they age out as young adults than to ever find adoptive families.

You can help change the odds for teens in DC area foster care. Many DCFYI teens are hoping to be adopted. All they need is one adult or couple to meet them and decide to become their parent. Perhaps you know someone who could be that parent. Help us reach others by telling them about DCFYI and the DCFYI teens.

If you have ever thought about becoming an adoptive parent, join us to learn more.

Not ready to adopt? Consider weekend hosting to help a teen meet other adults and find their family. Wonderful teens are waiting.

Thank you,
Susan


Upcoming Events

Shepherd Parkway Clean-up

Saturday May 8, 10:30 am - 1 pm (rain or shine)
Join DCFYI in partnership with Ward 8 Woods for the Shepherd Parkway Community Clean-Up.

Tie Dye with DCFYI
Saturday June 5, 2 - 4 pm
(Rain date - Sunday June 6)

Due to covid-related space limitations, event participation is primarily for unmatched teens and adults. Please contact Chanelle for information and to register for these events.

Event details are on the DCFYI website calendar.


Volunteer Get Togethers

Get to know other DCFYI adults and talk about volunteering. Note that the second get together is specifically for host parents and those interested in learning more about hosting.

Volunteer Meet and Greet
Thursday May 13, 6 PM

Host Parent Meet and Greet
Tuesday May 18, 7 PM

RSVP on the website calendar.


32,536 Mothers Day Illustrations & Clip Art - iStockHonor a Mother . . .

What better way to honor a special woman in your life this Mother's Day than a gift to Family & Youth Initiative? Your donation connects teens in foster care with caring adults who will provide the love and go-to advice moms are known for. . . adults who will support, listen, nudge, feed, and encourage . . . adults whose connection and support can literally change the future for a young person.

Isn't that what we all need? To know we are loved by people who help us be our best and continue to love us even when we fall short?

We’ll acknowledge your gift with a card or email to that special person and put your donation right to work.


Are you an active DCFYI volunteer? Now that we are getting back to in-person activities, we need your current auto insurance information. If you haven't submitted yours in a while, please email a copy to Julie

 
853 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20003

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