CHILDREN FIRST FOR OREGON

OREGON FOSTER YOUTH CONNECTION EMPOWERS CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH TO IMPROVE OREGON'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM THROUGH LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND ACTIVISM. FOSTER YOUTH GROW AS LEADERS BY DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS FOR OREGON'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. FROM THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE, OFYC MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN KEY CHILD WELFARE ADVISORY MEETINGS, PROVIDE EDUCATION ON FOSTER CARE ISSUES, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE IN THE OREGON LEGISLATURE. THEY LEARN TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, PROBLEM-SOLVE, AND WORK ON A TEAM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. THROUGH PEER SUPPORT AND ADULT MENTORSHIP, MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY WITH FOSTER YOUTH FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. PARTICIPATING YOUTH GAIN CONFIDENCE FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES IN FOSTER CARE WHILE BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT FOR A PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL ADULTHOOD. OFYC YOUTH ESTABLISH LONG-TERM CHANGE WITHIN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM BY DEVELOPING AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES IN THE OREGON LEGISLATURE. WINS SECURED BY YOUTH INCLUDE THE FOSTER CHILDREN'S SIBLING BILL OF RIGHTS, A TUITION WAIVER AT STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR YOUTH WHO SPENT TIME IN OREGON'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND THE ABILITY FOR FOSTER CHILDREN TO OPEN SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN THEIR OWN NAME. ALUMNI OF OFYC HAVE MOVED ON TO HIGHER EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP ROLES IN GOVERNMENT, AND CAREER PATHS THAT BUILD ON THE SKILLS GAINED IN OFYC.

UNITED FOR KIDS BRINGS TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF ADVOCATES THROUGH A SHARED AGENDA OF OVER 100 COALITION PARTNERS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY OF OREGON KIDS. MAKING OREGON A PLACE WHERE ALL CHILDREN CAN THRIVE REQUIRES ENSURING AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THROUGH UNITED FOR KIDS, WE BRING TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF ADVOCATES, COALITIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CHAMPION STATE LEGISLATIVE POLICIES AND SHARED INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN'S HEALTH, SAFETY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND EDUCATION. UNITED BY A SHARED CHILDREN'S AGENDA, OVER 100 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SPUR COMMUNITIES AND ELECTED LEADERS TO ACTION ON BEHALF OF OREGON'S 860,000 CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA IS A ROADMAP OF SOLUTIONS FOR STATE LEGISLATORS TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS FACING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. BY PRESENTING STRUCTURAL WAYS WE CAN PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL OREGON KIDS, THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA NOT ONLY URGES POLICYMAKERS TO ACTION, BUT HELPS ALL OF US MAKE OREGON THE BEST PLACE TO BE A KID.