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Capri Cruz, Author, Speaker, Foster Care Alumni and Activist

By Nicki Sanders | Dec 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Capri Cruz, Author, Speaker, Foster Care Alumni and Activist

Humbly answering the call to inspire and uplift our nation’s foster children, Capri Cruz shares her life story with Nicki Sanders, The Teen Toolbox Founder.  Looking at her life today, you would never guess the humble beginnings of this motivational speaker and two-time author. Capri Cruz began her life in the projects of New York City […]

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Nikki J, Author, Entrepreneur, Foster Care Alumni

By Nicki Sanders | Dec 4, 2012 | Comments Off on Nikki J, Author, Entrepreneur, Foster Care Alumni

Nikki J. is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who “grew up” in the foster care system in Ohio.  At a very early age, Nikki J. was caring for herself and her four siblings.  The instability and lack of proper adult supervision resulted in the children’s placement in foster care before Nikki J.’s seventh birthday.  She […]

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5 Ways We Can Serve Your Youth

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 29, 2012 | Comments Off on 5 Ways We Can Serve Your Youth

5 Ways The Teen Toolbox Can Serve Your Youth   1)    Packaged For Success™ Portfolio Development Program for teens helps teens put their best foot forward! During our one day professional portfolio development seminar, young people discover their strengths, record their achievements, create their own definition of success, and develop goals and action steps.  The […]

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SPOTLIGHT on Shorona L.

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 27, 2012 | Comments Off on SPOTLIGHT on Shorona L.

SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month Shorona L. November 2012   Shorona L. is a twenty year old junior in college in the state of New York.  Her hobbies include shopping, spending time with friends and family, and cooking.  Despite spending nine years in the foster care system, Shorona has decided to live life to the […]

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I Am Unable to Adopt or Foster, Now What?

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 27, 2012 | Comments Off on I Am Unable to Adopt or Foster, Now What?

#Fact: The more birthdays a child celebrates in the foster care system, the less likely they are of being adopted. Older children need families too.   Foster care statistics according to the AFCARS Report for FY2011 (July 2012): 400,540 in foster care on 9/30/11 252,320 entered foster care during FY2011 104,236 children and youth waiting to […]

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Happy Thanksgiving 2012

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 22, 2012 | Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving 2012

I admit that it upsets me when Christmas decorations line the store shelves at the same time as Halloween decorations.  Commercialization can not only bombard us make us forget the real meaning of the Christmas season, but if we aren’t careful we can forget about Thanksgiving as well.  There are very few Thanksgiving movies on […]

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Seeking Successful Female Foster Care Alumni

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 20, 2012 | Comments Off on Seeking Successful Female Foster Care Alumni

2012 marks the 6th year for our Annual Pack A Purse Holiday Drive to support teen girls in foster care.  Through the generosity of amazing donors, we have collected and donated a total of 951 purses to twenty-five organizations over the past five years.  This December we will use our blog as a platform to spread […]

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What Am I Afraid To Tell You?

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 15, 2012 | Comments Off on What Am I Afraid To Tell You?

What am I afraid to tell you? That’s a loaded question isn’t it?    What might a youth in foster care be afraid to tell their biological parent?   What might a youth in foster care be afraid to tell their social worker?   What might a youth in foster care be afraid to tell […]

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Where Can I Volunteer?

By Nicki Sanders | Nov 13, 2012 | Comments Off on Where Can I Volunteer?

I get many calls and emails from teens and parents who want or need community service hours.  I love those calls because I believe we all have something to contribute and we should share our talents to make the world a better place.    The Teen Toolbox sponsors two annual service opportunities to raise awareness about […]

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