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Between 18,000 and 20,000 youth aged 16 and older transition from the foster care system each year. Youth in foster care often do not get the help they need with high school completion, employment, accessing health care, continued educational opportunities, housing and transitional living arrangements. These are the areas in which youth need support to learn how to manage the activities of daily living and maintain connections to siblings, other caring adults and peers.  Frequently, the foster care system expect these youth to live on their own at age 18.  Studies of youth who have left foster care have shown they are more likely than those in the general population to not finish high school, be unemployed, and be dependent on public assistance.  Many find themselves in prison, homeless, or parents at an early age (www.casey.org/cnc/policy_issues/youth_aging_out.htm).  

On any given day in America, over 550,000 children and youth are in foster care (www.casey.org/fostercareinfo/get_involved.htm).  

How can you help? Initiate a service-learning project in your classroom that supports local foster care programs. Issues relating to foster care can also be great character education lessons! Here are a few ideas you might want to try that link service-learning and character education:

Participate in the "My Stuff (tm) Bags" program with the Dr. Laura Foundation
Character Traits to Focus On via Reflection: Sharing, Caring and Creativity
This program collects new items, such as stuffed animals, books, games and clothing to be packed into bags and given to needy foster care children.  Family & Consumer Science students can sew blankets!  Check out this site for easy blanket-making directions.  English students can collect books for children.  When collecting things, students need to make sure that collect 100 or more of the same items to be sent to the organization. This project can also be connected with technology as students create greeting cards for kids who receive the My Stuff (tm) Bags!  Visit http://www.drlaura.com/fndn/msb.html?mode=view&tile=1&id=2531 for more information.

Collect luggage for children in foster care
Character Traits to Focus On via Reflection: Responsibility and Friendship
Learn how one group of students in Indianapolis got involved with the FosterCare Luggage project. This program donates luggage to foster children so that they can transport their belongings with dignity.  When the luggage is given to the children, it is full of toys, clothes and other gifts.  our class can sponser such a project.  Technology students can create posters and flyers to let the community know how to donate the luggage. Transtion students can work on mobility skills as they take public transportation around the community and hang the flyers and posters.  For more information on the FosterCare Luggage program, visit the above site or contact Marc Brown at fcluggage@ameritech.net.

Create personal care kits for children in foster care
Character Traits to Focus On via Reflection: Purpose, Compassion and Kindness 
"In Pennsylvania, the Scranton Children's Action Team (CAT) provides personal care kits to foster care agencies, and works with the Junior League of Scranton to supply kids in foster care with canvas gym bags" (Connect for Kids).  Life Skills students can work on their organization and writing skills while they collect and organize personal care items and create the kits!

Reflection:

Through reflection, emotions and issues related to foster care can be discussed so that character education themes become a part of the project. Reflection activities such as small group discussions, journal writing, art activities and community focus groups can help students process and better understand issues related to foster care.

Here are a few emotions and issues you might want to explore and character traits that align with each issue:

Emotion/Issue: Adoption
Character Traits: Responsibility, Loving, Loyalty, Selflessness, Contentment

Emotion/Issue: Lonlieness
Character Traits: Sadness, Friendship, Kindness, Thoughtfulness, Confidence, Shyness

Emotion/Issue: Family
Character Traits: Belonging, Selflessness, Loving, Duty, Responsibility  

Emotion/Issue: Abandonment
Character Traits: Fear, Selfishness, Responsibility, Loyalty, Integrity

Emotion/Issue: Grief
Character Traits: Sadness, Loneliness, Forgiveness, Compassion

Foster Care Resources on the Web:

Foster Care Info
http://www.casey.org/fostercareinfo/index.htm

National Foster Care Month
http://216.198.222.116/newsletters/tracking.cfm?
myid=357&myurl=http://www.fostercaremonth.org

Child Welfare League of America
http://www.cwla.org/

Children's Defense Fund
www.childrensdefense.org