Insights from A. Lynn Keller

We all undergo difficult periods in our lives. We might say something without thinking, yell or cry at an inopportune moment, or neglect to consider another person's feelings... Stress, hormones and/or life-altering events can cause us to behave in a way that is less than our best.

When those moments come into our lives, we want support and understanding from other people. For this reason and many others, I wish my social worker had thought to question my medical diagnosis after I entered foster care.

Young people in foster care are often diagnosed with mental disorders for being impulsive, emotional, inattentive or defiant. Psychiatrists can be contextually insensitive by not considering the environmental reasons behind the behavior. Part of being a teenager is having mood swings. Part of surviving a crazy home life might mean exhibiting unusual behavior.

I am currently a bilingual Rotary Scholar, a writer, a graduate student, happily in love with a wonderful man, a yogi, a tutor and an aspiring filmmaker. But I still suffer from long-term medical problems that are a direct result of the medication I was given as a child.

Social workers should research the disorders that young people are labeled with and the side effects of their medication. Psychotropic drugs have not been tested on children because they were created for adults. Sedating young people might make them easier to handle - but it doesn't teach them how to deal with the past and adapt to the future.

- A. Lynn Keller is a member of Foster Care Alumni of America who is accomplishing great things. Please visit her web site: www.alynnkeller.com-a.googlepages.com/home

Amanda Dunlap's Thanksgiving toast

Amanda's toast at the Thanksgiving table mirrored her message to Ohio Congressman Patrick Tiberi:
"I grew up in foster care in the 12th district of Ohio.

"I was separated from my older and younger brother in care. I was fortunate enough to stay with my older sister.

"In care, I felt as though I had no connections and no voice. My very own guardian ad litem didn't listen to my wants and needs.

"FCAA has given me two things: a family and a voice. I am now the Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Ohio chapter and I am very passionate about child welfare. FCAA has given me lifelong connections, and the chance to make a positive difference!"

Who will protect our children?

Each us shared our thoughts at the Thanksgiving table at the United States Capitol, as part of Foster Care Alumni of America's nonviolent protest to reform the foster care system.

Here is what I said:

"I am a parent now, and I know what parents are supposed to do: PROVIDE, PROTECT and PREPARE our children for adulthood.

"Neither my father nor the government fulfilled those roles for me. As a child, I was not provided for in terms of my physical and emotional needs. I was not protected from physical and sexual assault. I was not prepared for the adult world.

"Sometimes when parents can't do the job, older siblings step up to help. So, if the government won't provide, protect and prepare young people within the foster care system, who will?"

Everyone at the table, all of whom had grown up in foster care, answered, "WE WILL!"

Ohio Congressman Patrick J. Tiberi

Congressman Patrick J. Tiberi was our last Ohio visit of the day. His actions demonstrate that he is aware of the urgency of foster care.

Amanda Dunlap took the lead in this conversation. She lives in the 12th district and has had firsthand experience with foster care and adoption.

Lisa Dickson shared the entire roster of bills, including the de-linking bill, kinship care, the adoption equality act, the Boxer and Clinton bills, because we want Tiberi to sponsor them all.

Legislative assistant, Lindsay S Vogtsberger (white pants, second from right) won't be our long-term contact regarding this initiative. We will continue to search for the right contact.

113 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-5355

Ohio Congresswoman Deborah Pryce

Congresswoman Deborah Pryce is reported to care about adoption.

Therefore, Amanda shared her personal story to introduce the Adoption Equality Act.

The person that we met with was Caitlin Short (tan sweater, middle of photo), and her focus is on the environment.

Legal assistant Lauren Neff will make a better contact for us...

320 Cannon Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-2015
lauren.neff@mail.house.gov

Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt

Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt's parents provided kinship care for another member of her family while she was growing up.

Therefore, while talking with her legal assistant Ben LaRocco (on the far right), our focus was on the Kinship Caregiver Support Act.

Steven(far left) shared his personal story; after he aged out of care, his aunt told him that she had wanted to take him and his siblings so that they could stay together - but she couldn't afford to do so.

Then Kevin (second from the left) suggested that, in situations where family members are the best placement, they should receive financial support.

Ben might not work directly on this issue, so he asked us to email him all the facts so that he can get them to the right person...

2nd district OH
238 Cannon Building
Washington DC 20515
ben.larocco@mail.house.gov

Ohio Senator George Voinovich

Since Ohio Senator George Voinovich cares deeply about dollars and sense...

We focused on the cost-effectiveness of investing in young people aging out of foster care, while talking with his legal assistant Angela Mikolajewski (gray suit, brown pants in picture on the left).

524 Hart Senate Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3353
angela_mikolajewski@voinovich.senate.gov

1. Kevin Brown shared his personal story and it was obvious how ETV funds were a wise investment for his future. It pays to invest in young people aging out of foster care.

2. Lisa Dickson shared information about the Boxer Bill and Clinton Bill.

3. Ruthie White outlined the cost/benefit ratio of investing in foster care youth.

4. Amanda Dunlap went over the packet of information about the Kids Are Waiting campaign in great detail.

It should be mentioned that Angela Mikolajewski is an amazingly good listener. She is, without a doubt, the best listener that I have ever met in my life.