Foster Care Program graduates (back, from left) Lateisha Lopez, Janet Del Vallle, and Shayna Best, and (front) Tiquan Billings celebrate during their ceremony. Not pictured is Douglas Smith, who was already attending school in South Carolina on the date of the ceremony.
Much like school commencement ceremonies, graduating from foster care involves looking back at past accomplishments and looking ahead to future plans. However, students leaving their foster care placements are looking not only at their education, but at all of the experiences in their lives which have influenced their personal development and shaped and cultivated their desired goals and dreams.
Generally, they transition from foster care placements, usually at age 18, to attend college or vocational school or to pursue permanent employment. Thus, the five young people who recently graduated from their foster care placements with Family & Children’s Agency celebrated themselves and their foster families as they prepared to become independent young adults.
The summer ceremony opened with welcoming remarks from Robert Cashel, President and CEO of Family & Children’s Agency, and Janeen Reid, Adolescent Coordinator in the Agency’s Foster Care Program. Ms. Reid, while congratulating the young people on their achievements, also noted that they will continue to face challenges, saying, “Keep in mind that the challenges are not meant to break you, but to strengthen you and to show you that there is ability and courage within to turn obstacles into opportunities and struggles into manifested strengths.”
After a celebratory dinner, the guests enjoyed two special performances.
Jennifer Armistead, who went to Southern Connecticut State University after graduating from the program, offered hope and inspiration with a song, “The Greatest Love.” Ally Acosta, Youth Advisory Board President, read her original poem, “Don’t Give Up.” The Youth Advisory Board is focused on building a youth community within the Agency’s Foster Care Program, and they organize programs and activities/events for all of the youth in the program, including recognition events to highlight their accomplishments.
Before the recognition ceremony, the guests also heard from Guy Council, an Adolescent Mentor with the Agency’s program, and Monica Ross, a recent graduate. After congratulating the students and their parents, Mr. Council described his own experience as a foster child. His foster mother, he said, “put her faith in me, and I started to think better of myself (because of her).” He encouraged the students, saying, “Believe in yourselves and believe in your dreams, even when no one else believes in you.” Ms. Ross talked about her experience as a student at Southern Connecticut State University, and advised the students, “When you’re at college, you’ve got to find your balance and not give in to distraction.”
The graduates themselves spoke about the lessons they will carry with them as they take their next steps in life. Shayna Best, who will study nursing, advised, “Keep your head up, pray, and keep going.” Tiquan Billings, who will attend a trade school to learn carpentry, gave a ‘shout out’ to his foster mother, saying, “I love you.” Janet Del Valle, who also plans to study nursing at Norwalk Community College, said, “Listen to the people who are trying to help you.” Lateisha Lopez, who plans to be a cosmetologist, echoed Shayna’s words about being aware of the opportunities and challenges ahead. Douglas Smith, at South Carolina State University, is aiming to become a music producer, and one of his goals is “to inspire other kids as they grow up.”
The graduates’ words were an inspiration for younger students in foster care who attended the ceremony with their parents. These young people also received recognition from their Agency caseworkers for accomplished goals and achievements during the past year. As Debbie Tadduni, Director of the Agency’s Foster Care Program, noted, “We just like to highlight the accomplishments of all of our adolescents, as we know that there are many challenges and difficulties they have experienced in their histories and as part of the foster care system. We just want them to know that we care and take pride in acknowledging their progress, milestones, and achievements.”
Family & Children’s Agency is a non-profit family service organization serving the needs of more than 10,000 individuals – including children, adults and families – throughout Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, go to www.FamilyandChildrensAgency.org.
