A “College Survival Guide” for youth in foster care
The Columbia University campus with a statue in the foreground. Shutterstock
A coalition of nonprofits is looking for signatures in support of ending federal budget limits. An open letter by the “New York Federal Tax and Budget Response Team” urges the New York City congressional delegation to support more funding for human services. The coalition is “asking New York City human service providers, faith organizations, and policy experts to sign” on to the letter, which asks them to support “a budget agreement that lifts spending caps, invests in critical human services programs, and advances critical tax policy.”
The coalition includes FPWA, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York, UJA-Federation of New York, Fiscal Policy Institute, New York Housing Conference, LiveOn NY, Human Services Council of New York, United Neighborhood Houses, and more. The deadline to join is Aug. 2, according to a July 18 press release.
The Federal Tax and Budget Response Team is asking NYC human service providers, faith orgs, and policy experts to sign-on and share this letter (https://t.co/E0DOIvf0OR) asking NYC members of Congress to reach a budget agreement.
— FPWA (@FPWA) July 18, 2019
Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster raised $54,000 at a golfing event in Goshen. The money will support addiction services and emergency food and shelter programs, according to a July 18 press release. This was the 13th year that the nonprofit hosted the golfing fundraiser.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest hosted a July 17 event on youth-led activism. Lucy Ivey, host of Teens Speak Up Podcast, moderated a panel discussion on climate change, mental health, gun control, and sports equity at the event, which also included opening remarks by New York City Councilman Antonio Reynoso.
The state Complete Count Commission will hold a public hearing in White Plains on July 25. Speaking slots will be limited to three minutes, according to a July 18 press release. People who wish to testify about how the state should approach the 2020 Census need to register here by 5 p.m. on July 24. Written testimony may be submitted to commissioners or staff at the events or emailed to hearing@labor.ny.gov. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on July 25 at 123 Main Street in White Plains.
Rising Ground has the details on a “College Survival Guide” for youth in foster care. The author is Crystal Montgomery, a former youth development specialist at the New York City-based nonprofit, who got a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University after spending time in foster care.
The goal of the eight-page primer is to help youth access the services and resources available to them in order to avoid the mistakes experienced by Montgomery and other former youth in care. “My first year, I messed up the financial aid form, and I had to take out a $20,000 loan,” she is quoted as saying in a blog post on the Rising Ground website, which adds that “It wasn’t until her second year that she found out about other resources, such as a federal education training voucher, available to her as a former youth in care.”