Forward Steps

Behind the Business has Begun

sabrina — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:34:43 +0000

Behind the Business, a program to introduce our young adults to a wide range of career possibilities, has gotten underway at Forward Steps! Behind the Business (BtB) introduces young adults in our program to a variety of businesses and potential career opportunities. BtB tour guides provide unique behind the scenes access to the many departments and functions that make their specific businesses run.

The most popular employment choices for our young adults are often a lawyer or a social worker because those are the professions they are most exposed to while in foster care. As an extension of the valuable mentoring and life skills training Forward Steps provides, the BtB program is designed to inspire new ideas and present expanded options. The hope is that our young adults will envision themselves in one of these roles and that Forward Steps can support them on their path to get there.

BtB kicked off with behind the scenes tour of Lefthand Brewery in Longmont and Pearl Izumi in Boulder. If you work for a local company and would be interested in sharing your career insights while serving as a “tour guide” in our Behind the Business program, we’d like to hear from you. Our young adults will benefit greatly from your time and experience.

Forward Steps Welcomes Two Former Foster Youth to Program

sabrina — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:31:02 +0000

Forward Steps welcomes Lindsey and Sarah to our program. Lindsey, 18, is studying graphic design at Community College of Denver. She enjoys drawing and sports, and has plans to get back into hockey after getting a job. Sarah, 20, attends Santa Fe Community College where she is pursuing a major in criminal pathology and a minor in culinary arts. She recently started a job at a theater. In her free time she enjoys reading, volleyball and movies.

The Uninterrupted Scholars Act is law!

sabrina — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:27:03 +0000

The Uninterrupted Scholars Act was signed into law this week

The Uninterrupted Scholars Act will enable more foster youth contemplate and earn a college degree, by providing a stronger foundation for the K-12 education. The delay in transferring of school records has led to delayed enrollment in a new school due to a placement change, ending up in the wrong class, and even losing course credit preventing grade advancement and even delaying graduation by a semester or years. These conditions make it extremely challenging for foster youth to consider college. This Bill, as the title suggests, provides an uninterrupted K-12 education, enabling foster youth to fully anticipate and plan for a college graduation.

Forward Steps is awarded a $5,000 grant!

sabrina — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:24:19 +0000

Thank you The Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation!

Forward Steps is excited to announce that The Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation awarded us a $5,000 grant! This award will be used to assist our young adults from foster care to learn to become self-sufficient while obtaining a college degree. We are thrilled to add The Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation to our list of contributors!

FriendRaiser 2012

Jeremy Carlson — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:20:39 +0000

‘Behind the Business’ has Begun

carroll — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:54:58 +0000

Behind the Business, a program to introduce our young adults to a wide range of career possibilities, is underway at Forward Steps! Behind the Business (BtB) introduces young adults in our program to a variety of businesses and potential career opportunities. BtB tour guides provide unique behind the scenes access to the many departments and functions that make their specific businesses run.

The most popular employment choices for our young adults are often lawyer or social worker because those are the professions they are most exposed to while in foster care. As an extension of the valuable mentoring and life skills training Forward Steps provides, the BtB program is designed to inspire new ideas and present expanded options. The hope is that our young adults will envision themselves in one of these roles and that Forward Steps can support them on their path to get there.

If you work for a local company and would be interested in sharing your career insights while serving as a tour guide in our Behind the Business program, we’d like to hear from you. Our young adults will benefit greatly from your time and experience.

May is Foster Care Month

carroll — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:52:43 +0000

According to The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, nearly ¼ of the youth in foster care in Colorado are the ages 16 – 18. That means that a large majority of our foster care youth will soon be what we call ‘aging out’ or emancipating from the system, many of them without lifelong families. On their own, these young adults must navigate a weakened economy offering fewer jobs and less support for vital services such as housing. They need – and deserve – caring adults who love and support them. Forward Steps provides that support. Participants in our program receive:

Housing in a one-bedroom apartment
Assistance obtaining/maintaining employment
Life skills training like money management, household management, community navigation
Personal wellness
Cultural experiences or fun with a purpose

There are many ways to help Forward Steps in our mission to support these young adults so they can reach their full potential as active, independent, self-sufficient members of their communities. Join us!

Ride at Elitch’s and raise funds for Forward Steps!!

sabrina — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:34:47 +0000

Elitch Gardens is offering special tickets to benefit local nonprofits. Purchase a ticket and raise money for Forward Steps!

Tickets are $24.99 and Forward Steps keeps $5 for every ticket sold
Tickets are valid any operating day in May with 19 days to choose from

Get tickets to Elitch Gardens today!

Forward Steps’ Executive Director Takes on National Role with Foster Care Alumni of America

sabrina — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:04:10 +0000

Sabrina Huffaker, Forward Steps’ Executive Director, recently joined Foster Care Alumni of America’s (FCAA) national advisory committee. The committee focuses on performing advocacy, policy and outreach duties in support of the association’s mission—“Connect Today and Transform Tomorrow”.

Colorado Participates in the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth

Jeremy Carlson — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:02:55 +0000

The U.S. Senate Caucus on Foster Youth has published a Called to Action listing changes they wanted to see in the system. U.S Representatives are also developing their own caucus to examine child welfare system reform. We are glad to say that Colorado’s Congressman Cory Gardner (District 4) is a member of this Foster Youth caucus.

These bipartisan groups are charged with doing the necessary research with subject matter experts—like Forward Steps, its affiliates, and foster care youth—before taking what they learned and turning it into bills to be passed by Congress.

Forward Steps cares about what happens to foster care youth once they emancipate from the system, and helping to change the system is one way we demonstrate this. We will continue to monitor these efforts, as we understand the impacts of legislation as it relates to the people we serve.