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Are Your Teens Taking Charge?

By Nicki Sanders | Jun 26, 2012 | 0 Comments

The Teen Toolbox provides “tools for teens to take charge”. We are huge proponents of the positive youth development model. In its simplest form positive youth development means that instead of focusing on risk factors and deficits, we focus on the strength and promise in youth. The positive youth development model suggests that helping youth […]

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You Want Me To Adopt A Teen From Foster Care?

By Nicki Sanders | Jun 21, 2012 | 0 Comments

If you spent your teen years like the average teenager, trying desperately to exercise your independence and separate yourself from your parents/families you may not understand why a 17 or 18 year old in foster care may want to be adopted.  If the primary goals for you or your friends as teenagers were to obtain […]

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Document Their Lives In A Professional Portfolio?

By Nicki Sanders | Jun 19, 2012 | 0 Comments

Every teen’s life is worth documenting.  That documentation can happen in a scrapbook, a journal, or as with many youth in foster care it happens in a life book.  A scrapbook contains an artsy collection of photos of (professional and unprofessional) special moments and fun life events.  A journal can contain personal ideas and thoughts […]

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National Foster Care Month 2012 Updates

By Nicki Sanders | Jun 5, 2012 | 0 Comments

We surpassed our National Foster Care Awareness Month First Annual Pack A Backpack Drive™ goal by collecting 46 backpacks filled with personal hygiene items to teen males in foster homes, group homes, and homeless shelters during the month of May 2012.  Thanks to our amazing donors, the backpacks were donated to KidsPeace, Prince George’s County […]

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Christopher Chmielewski, Publisher, Foster Focus Magazine

By Nicki Sanders | May 31, 2012 | 0 Comments

Our final blog post for our National Foster Care Month blog series on teen males is a profile of foster care alumni and Foster Focus Magazine publisher Christopher Chmielewski. Christopher was adopted at an early age and grew up in the “coal region” of Pennsylvania. He entered foster care as a teen and eventually “aged-out” of […]

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Rich Korb – Educator and “Behavior Answer Man”

By Nicki Sanders | May 29, 2012 | 0 Comments

Rich Korb is an author and educator with 34 years experience working with youth in traditional and alternative schools, residential facilities, and juvenile detention centers. He has also served as an athletic coach. Rich is known as the “Behavior Answer Man”. He shares his wisdom through Pioneer Education Consulting.   As an Educator and Administrator […]

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George – From Foster Care to PowerNetworker

By Nicki Sanders | May 24, 2012 | 0 Comments

Our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males continues with George Fraser.  George Fraser is a successful business man, renowned speaker, and author of three books.  He is the founder of the annual PowerNetworking Conference, the largest gathering of Black professionals, business owners and community leaders.   George Fraser was born in Brooklyn New […]

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Exavier – Love of His Foster Mom Propelled Him To Succeed

By Nicki Sanders | May 22, 2012 | 0 Comments

Exavier Pope owns The Pope Law Firm.  He is a Sports & Entertainment Attorney, Media Personality, Fortune 500 Speaker and Peak Performance Strategist, Writer, Economic Developer, and former foster youth.  Exavier shared his amazing  story for our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males.   Exavier’s foster mother, Emma Lily Mitchell, declared to […]

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Bob – Tough But Fair Foster Father

By Nicki Sanders | May 17, 2012 | 0 Comments

Today we continue our National Foster Care Awareness Month blog series on teen males with the interview of another foster father with KidsPeace.  Bob O’Connor and his wife Coco have been foster parents for 23 years.   They have had short-term placements, long-term placements, and provided therapeutic foster care and respite care.   They have been foster parents to […]

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