Vol. 5, No. 1 • Fall 2000
Update From Say So
- All 14 newly elected 2000�2001 Say So Board of Directors representatives spent their summer speaking at the four Youth Days conferences held at community colleges throughout North Carolina and at the Youth Recognition Ceremonies in June. Say So representatives encouraged youths to develop local Say So chapters and speak out for youths in substitute care throughout their region.
- In August, Say So Treasurer, Jen Painter, joined Say So program coordinator, Nancy Carter, on a trip to speak at the Arizona State Annual Youth Conference. The Arizona Department of Youth and Family Services sponsored their trip to encourage Arizona youths to speak out for needed changes in the substitute care system. Jen found that Arizona youths are seeking changes similar to the ones sought by North Carolina youths. At the conclusion of the conference, a teen panel presented their concerns to state administrators. It was a proud moment.
- Say So was represented by Crystal Winslow and Jiselle Prentice at the recent National Independent Living Conference, �Growing Pains,� in Washington, D.C. Crystal and Jiselle spoke on the rewards and reasons to develop youth advisory boards and facilitated a discussion with youths around the country on the strengths and needs of the substitute care system. Winslow and Prentice discovered that youths all over are facing similar issues.
- Say So members Faith Newsome and Jen Painter conducted a workshop at the recent Second Annual Court Improvement Conference. The youths discussed their personal stories of life in care, what is Say So, and answered questions from the audience.
- Say So members received support from the Covenant with North Carolina�s Children on requesting North Carolina legislators to include $500,000 in the budget to assist youths transitioning out of foster care. (To learn more about the results of this effort, see this issues' article New Funding Dramatically Expands Services to Foster Teens Through LINKS .) Thank you Covenant and thank you legislators! A thank-you book was signed by many youths around the state.
- Co-Chairs Erica Bailey and Mindy Medina facilitated a quarterly Say So Board of Directors (BOD) meeting in September. BOD members discussed issues such as tuition waivers, supporting local chapter development, lobbying for needed changes, developing a new newsletter, and speaking to state/national conferences and trainings.
- For information on starting a local chapter or to request a Say So member to speak to your group, please contact Independent Living Resources� Nancy Carter (t: 800-820-0001; e: [email protected]).
Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families
