Professional Development

Expressing your individuality and challenging social norms can be difficult in a culture that emphasizes conformity and fitting in.  I am writing this blog to challenge you to begin the New Year with a renewed commitment to living life with purpose and pride.  Take some time today to set the tone for how you want […]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I have said my good-bye to 2012 and welcomed in 2013 with an expectation of abundance in all areas of my life.  I am grateful to all of the people who helped shape my values, views, and victories.   The one sentence that sums up my 2012 is “leap and the net

SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month Jordan W. December 2012     Jordan W. is a 19 year old college freshman attending McNeese State University in Louisiana on a Division I basketball scholarship.  Jordan began playing basketball during his sophomore year in high school.  Basketball has given him a goal to strive for and a more

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

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

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

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

November is National Adoption Month. National Adoption Month has been celebrated for 17 years.  Every November, a Presidential Proclamation launches activities and celebrations to help build awareness of adoption throughout the nation. Thousands of community organizations arrange and host programs, events, and activities to share positive adoption stories, challenge the myths, and draw attention to

With our SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month relaunch we will feature youth, ages 14-21, who are currently in foster care.  In June 2008, we featured Donte Young as our SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month.  He was a high school sophomore, Chaplain of his high school’s the Student Government Association and member of the Praise Team.  Donte

I don’t usually use Wikepedia (for obvious reasons).  It is likely that I will never quote this website again, but I found their definition of youth empowerment to be pretty good.  According to Wikepedia, youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and