U.S. Reps Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) will introduce a bill next week that would allow former foster youth access to Medicaid in any state until the age of 26. The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2009, guarantees Medicaid eligibility until 26 to youth who age out of foster care, the same amount of [...]
Christopher Berry’s troubles started long before he killed his infant son in 2013. After surviving a suicide bombing and returning from Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress in 2011, Berry racked up arrests for allegedly shoving his teenage girlfriend, deliberately running over pigeons, and stealing from his employer. Yet, when state social workers got a report that [...]
Director’s Blog – September, 2014 First Star Greater Washington held the first monthly meeting of the 2015-2016 academic year at the historic Arts Club of Washington this past Saturday, September 5th. Students and Mentors alike were ecstatic to see one another after the end the summer immersion in August. Smiles and warm embraces were [...]
Nick Anderson of the Washington Post wrote on September 3, 2015. Scores on the SAT have sunk to the lowest level since the college admission test was overhauled in 2005, adding to worries about student performance in the nation’s high schools. The average score for the Class of 2015 was 1490 out of a maximum [...]
In an article in the Missoulian written by HOLBROOK MOHR and AMY BETH HANSON of AP, Montana child welfare officials have reiterated their position that state law prohibits disclosure of information about child abuse deaths despite a warning from the federal government that continued secrecy could jeopardize grant money. Officials at Montana's Department of Public [...]
One of California's largest private foster care agencies is under fire over allegations of torture and abuse that are outlined in a 76-page lawsuit. The suit alleges foster care children endured physical and mental abuse of a seven-year period, abuse allegedly covered up by the Rancho Cucamonga-based Interim Care Foster Family Agency, which recruited and [...]
Dr. Claire Pomeroy, is the Dean, School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis, and a one-time foster child.
She put up this wonderful article on HuffingtonPost.com, telling of her remarkable success in the face of the daunting odds many foster children face.
To quote one section:
"The greatness of a society is defined by how it treats its most vulnerable members. By this measure, the U.S. is failing and the cost comes in wasted talent and unfulfilled potential among foster youth. Each of us must care enough to save children one at a time and change the systems to ensure that all children are saved."
Please read the whole article! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-pomeroy/foster-care-youththe-face_b_3315119.html
First Star co-founder Peter Samuelson presented this moving and instructive TED Talk on how we all can take our talents and energy and use them for good. He discusses how he got into solving problems for a particularly disadvantaged segment of our society, Foster Children.
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