#FosterYouthInAction We formed groups and gave suggestions to the board of supervisors at the Feedback Session during Foster Youth Power LA. They took notes to assure our voice would be heard. We did not have any adults over us telling us what to do instead, we were put in leadership positions across the board. No one's voice was left out. We were all included and felt as one.
If you’ve never experienced foster care you may be puzzled by my comment, “we did not have any adults over us telling us what to do.” In foster care, we are compelled to do what the court, social worker, and foster parents decide for us. These decisions are made without our input. We no longer have control over our lives. Most times we are placed in homes that are supposed to take place of a family but may have a hidden agenda (usually financial). There are many issues in foster care from lack of food, unfair rules, clear separation and mistreatment between foster youth and biological children in the home, sibling separation, 7 day notices to be removed immediately with no knowledge where we will go and oftentimes nowhere to go, abuse and neglect, moving from placement to placement, and much more. When these issues are addressed we are often told “that is just the way it is” and forced to deal with it. We are living in these homes, we must abide by rules to avoid facing retaliation and mistreatment. Even when we may know our rights and voice our concerns we are overlooked. This Feedback Session empowered and encouraged us to use our voices to create change.