March 17, 2004

Program fosters sense of reliance

Girls' Practicum offers guidance for older foster teens

By
Herald staff writer

      Editor's note: Only the first names of program participants have been used to protect their privacy.
      Like all graduations, Monday's celebration by a group of young women who participated in the Girls' Practicum program, marked a turning point in their lives.
      Five young women, who have been in the foster care system for several years, have completed a new program sponsored by Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan called the Girls' Practicum.
      The Practicum program is designed for older teens who will be "aging out" of the foster care system within a year or two. They are either not expected to return home, or they are not expected to learn the skills they need to successfully live independently if they are to return home.
      "The greatest thing about the program is watching the girls become stronger and more self-reliant," said program facilitator Courtney Padgett.
      The program, funded by a grant from the Three Generation Circle of Women Givers, provides opportunities for the girls to get to know themselves and each other.
      For those girls who are selected to participate by their case worker, the program also provides an opportunity to learn about their values and beliefs, to explore their interests and aptitudes, to learn how to present themselves successfully in interviews and to attend community cultural events.
      "Being able to talk to someone who has been in a similar situation has been the best part of the program for me," said 17-year-old Jackie.
      Though foster care is the common bond that brought the girls together, they have developed a relationship that goes beyond the foster care system.
      "It's not everyday you get to be put in a situation with girls who have similar experience. We talk to each other about how we deal with the situations we're in," said 16-year-old Mari. "We've learned about team building and getting along together as a group. We get a lot of support and encouragement from each other."