Foster Care Alumni Contributions to the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP)

Lamar Graham's recent article for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program's Common Ground newsletter:

Meet Foster Care Alumni Trainer Lamar Graham   Lamar is currently serving a second year as an AmeriCorps member with Hands-On Central Ohio, where he is responsible for getting people excited about service and also recruiting volunteers for service projects.  We asked Lamar to give us some insight into what youth need to be prepared for independent living. What is one of your specific advocacy areas related to foster care? Education Can you give some examples of why this area needs reform? Many students finish high school with no idea of the career path they want to follow. I feel students should leave high school with at least four possible career options. They should know which careers require additional education, and understand the steps needed to be successful in the career they choose. If students have a clearer understanding of what they would like to accomplish after high school, they would save time and use financial aid more wisely. How can caseworkers/foster caregivers/adoptive parents better equip foster youth in this area? Each stakeholder listed above should understand their role clearly and know exactly how their role ties in with the success of foster youth. Caseworkers/foster caregivers/adoptive parents should coordinate a plan with the youth, outlining specific goals the youth may want to accomplish.   By scheduling regular meetings to discuss and monitor the youth's progress, many future challenges can be avoided.   What are some creative ideas regarding how this information might be shared in a workshop setting? I recommend the following:  1.  The training (or series of trainings) should start with a joint session with foster youth, caseworkers, foster caregivers/adoptive parents.  2.  Each "role" should then have their own session (foster youth, caseworker, foster caregivers/adoptive parents) 3.  There should be rotation in which two groups are paired up and the third is by itself:     -Youth will work alone, while foster caregivers /adoptive parents and caseworker work together      -Caseworker will work alone, while youth and foster caregivers/adoptive parents work together      -Foster caregivers /adoptive parents will work alone, while youth and caseworker work together  4.  Everyone comes back together for a large group session Lamar holds an Associate Degree in Business Management from Columbus State Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management from Wilberforce University. Lamar's future plans include becoming a professional speaker, trainer, and coach to help people become the best person they can become.

Spotlight on FCAA Ohio Members: Lamar Graham

Congratulations to Lamar Graham for being chosen for the Civic Scholars Program of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Chicago -- this was a nationally competitive process, and we in Ohio are incredibly proud of him!!

The National Conference on Volunteering and Service is the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors.

The Civic Scholars Program provides 50 individuals with community involvement experience and high potential for future civic engagement with:

• waived Conference registration
• direct access to experts
• continuing education opportunities

Lamar Graham was chosen for this opportunity based upon his active civic engagement and community involvement, and his willingness to commit to this one-year initiative.

As graduate of Wilberforce University, and someone who has experienced foster care firsthand, Lamar’s desire is to help other young people succeed. His dedication towards this goal is exemplified through his actions.

• On numerous occasions, Lamar has met with foster care youth at Franklin County Children Services, Village Network and Syntaxis to share resources available through I Know I Can, the only college access program in Columbus: This national organization was founded by community and civic leaders who believed that no child should be denied a college education simply because they could not afford it – and Lamar’s vision is to bridge the gap between foster care and higher education.

• Lamar has dedicated his time to support the Children's Defense Fund as a servant leader in his teaching role at the Freedom School, and during CDF’s National Day of Social Action, when he shared his story with community leaders and the local press to advocate for continued funding for Pell Grants.

As an aspiring civic leader, Lamar continues to share his insights:

• In 2011, Lamar testified before the Ohio Senate Judiciary-Criminal Justice Committee regarding a proposed bill, Foster Youth Notification Provisions, which would have required notification to the local community when a foster child moves into the neighborhood, at the same level as if that young person were an adult sexual offender. 

• It was Lamar who reminded Ohio legislators to imagine what it was like to be a young person in foster care, having experienced abuse/neglected by their parents, to then feel labeled and alienated by the community as well. And it was this level of courage and diplomacy that led to this proposed bill being overturned.

Lamar is an excellent team player, who pays close attention to detail. A talented public speaker, he can both captivate an audience and yet remains willing to take the back seat if necessary in order to enable, empower and encourage other young people to grow.

Lamar's recent decision to pursue nonprofit training certification at OSU is just one more indicator of his long-term commitment towards creating lasting change.