Organizational Development

We more than doubled our National Foster Care Awareness Month Second Annual Pack A Backpack Drive goal and collected 210 backpacks (duffel bags and knapsacks) filled with personal hygiene items to teen males in foster homes, group homes, and homeless shelters during the months of May and June 2013. (Our goal was 80.) The backpacks […]

I was “flipping” through my blog and realized that I use quite a few different adjectives to describe teens in foster care. Brave, awesome, and resilient are the first adjectives I rediscovered. I said it and I mean it. I am on a mission to change societal attitudes and behaviors as it relates to youth

I saw the first episode of Family Addition with Leigh Anne Touhy this past Friday and the second episode of The Fosters on Monday. The question that I asked myself after each television show was “Did this make me want to help a child in the foster care system?” I am a very critical viewer

There have been various studies and comparisons of foster children and military children.  The bottom line is that they are all OUR children and deserve the care and concern of the entire nation.      Just like foster children, military children experience unique challenges such as parental separation, family reunification, and reintegration. Due to frequent

National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity raise awareness of the experiences and needs of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system.  Pack A Backpack Drive is The Teen Toolbox’s annual National Foster Care Month event.  During the month of May we have collected and distributed new and gently used

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity raise awareness of the experiences and needs of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign also encourages the community to get involved and support these young people.   Every year, approximately 30,000 young people leave

Although many people misunderstand them, negatively stereotype them, underestimate them, and are even a bit afraid of them, I love working with teens.  Teens are not just our future – they are our present. I believe that we all have an obligation to prepare a better world for them to inherit and also to adequately

Every state in the United States has children and teens in the foster care system. These young people belong to all of us. May is National Foster Care Month.  Let’s show that we care.   National Foster Care Month Core Messages:    The Magnitude – on any given day there are more than 400,000 children

Today is the day.  May 1st marks the beginning of National Foster Care Month.   This entire month is dedicated to showcasing that each of us can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care.   National Foster Care Month 2013 – Supporting Youth In Transition On any given day

Each Thursday in April our blog posts will focus on the theme “Throw-Back Thursday” and I will share past blog posts with you.    Today’s Throw-Back Thursday theme is teen workforce development and career exploration.    Teens want to be engaged and involved in productive activities.  Teens want to work and earn money.  The following