Organizational Development

Shay Olivarria is a financial education speaker, former newspaper columnist, former foster youth and author of All My Mistakes: Money lessons for emancipating youth, 10 Things College Students Need to Know About Money and Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook. She teaches personal finance to youth in foster care through her […]

As we host our 6th Annual PACK A PURSE™ Drive in to collect and distribute purses filled with personal hygiene items to teen girls in foster care this December 2012, we will also use the Teen Toolbox blog as a platform to spread inspiration and hope by highlighting the triumphs of successful women foster care

Kea Theroux is a social worker who supports a national extension of the foster care system past age 18 for those who want to remain in care.  Kea advocates from her own experience after she disclosed years of neglect which resulted in her spending the ages of 16-19 in the Louisiana foster care system.  She

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

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

#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

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

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

Our “SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month” feature recognizes a teen in foster care that is making a positive impact in their community.  This feature allows us to highlight the best in our young people and show that when given support and opportunity, youth can change the world. I created SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month to eliminate negative

Today is the day — Election Day 2012. Are you ready to exercise your civic duty today?  Maybe you took advantage of early voting in your state like I did.  Regardless of your party affiliation or selected presidential candidate I urge you today to let your voice be heard.  The ability to vote is a