Vol. 3, No. 1 • Fall 1998
Youth Days: An Investment in the Future
Held across North Carolina each summer, Youth Days are day-long retreats for teens in foster care and their parents or social workers. And no matter which category you fall into, teenager or adult, a Youth Day is bound to touch your heart.
Youth Days offer workshops, speakers, a pizza party, a tour of a community college campus, and a door prize for every foster child who attends. And, in the process, it offers everyone motivation and inspiration to build their future.
"Hang around people who are going somewhere. Don't hang around faithless, dreamless people. Find a dream and dream it big!"
--Steaphon Jones, age 18The Youth Day I attended began with two speakers who themselves were foster youth. Erica, age 17, talked about her experiences in foster care and about a newly formed youth organization to which she belongs (see �Say So,� page 3).
She was followed by Steaphon Jones, an 18-year-old who chose to remain in foster care under a voluntary placement agreement (for more on VPA�s see p. 11). A former athlete who plans to attend seminary, Steaphon delivered a strong message. Looking straight at the audience, he urged them to use their imaginations and think big. �You�ve got to visualize yourself in high places,� he said. �Find a dream and dream it big!�
The rest of the day focused on fun and the future. During and in between workshops dealing with the realities of teenage parenting, drug use, and the importance of choosing a career, kids had plenty of time to socialize, make friends, eat, and ride in a real military Humvee.
Youth Days, which are sponsored by the NC Division of Social Services and Independent Living Resources, are free to anyone who registers.
If you would like information about the Youth Days planned, contact Nancy Carter or Bill Griffin at 800/820-0001.
Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families
