Foster Skills, Inc. | shape a life. build a future.

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Foster Skills, Inc. | shape a life. build a future.

About Us MISSION Foster Skills is a nonprofit dedicated to helping foster youth achieve life success. PURPOSE To enrich the lives of program participants by providing tangible resources, emotional support, skill-building education, and advocacy. VISION Develop foster youth into independent and productive citizens that become benefactors to their communities.

Structure Program Initiatives Road to Success

Foster Skills: About Us

HISTORY
Marquis Cabrera founded Foster Skills soon after studying Juvenile Law under Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice, Roderick Ireland. He witnessed many heart-wrenching care and protection cases and developed a passion for social justice. Having had experienced the grueling effects of the foster care system firsthand; he started mentoring foster youth, and figured if he could help one that he could help many more.

Foster Skills: About Us

CULTURE
Foster Skills maintains a fairly young staff in FOUNDING STORIES order to stay current. The company was built The Star Fish Story on the notion that successful youth can and Moccasin will help foster youth become successful. Everyday, we believe that foster youth will VALUES only be successful if we do the following: Personal Responsibility Innovation Put Kids First (!) Urgency Moccasin Youth Empowerment Increase Effort Times Adaptability Choice Build Loyalty and Community Accountability Implement Fun-derstanding Practices Collaboration Model The Future Responsiveness Quality Integrity

WHAT WE DO
Bond Provide mentors for emotional stability and development; Educate Teach foster youth via interactive workshops practical, and transferable life skills; Connect - Bridge connections with like organizations, and connect foster youth to resource and community organizations; Share - And, create awareness about the issues facing youth to help develop best practices.

Foster Skills operates to provide equip foster youth with tools to be successful when they go out into the world.

Foster Skills: About Us

Why we do what we do?

Together we can and will Why not make a difference We believe in foster children

The Y in what we do

Shape a life. Build a future.

The smallest effort can have the greatest impact Be the change Foster youth can achieve!

Foster Care: The Challenges

Foster Youth Statistics: The Chronic Underachievement and Collateral Effects of the Foster Care System Almost 40 percent of former foster youth have repeated one or more grades Fifty-two percent of students who were ever in foster care read below grade level, compared to 38% of the overall population Only 20 to 30 percent of youth in foster care nationally graduated high school by age 19 Less than three percent of former foster youth obtained a bachelors degree One-third of youth lived at or below poverty after leaving foster care, three times higher than the national rate A Department of Social Services survey found that 37 percent of former foster youth experienced homelessness after age 18
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Foster Care: Voices

Theres a perception that . . . these foster kids . . . if theyre Foster Youth Speak Out! not with their mother or Luis believes all children deserve the nurturing that came to father, that means no one him so late. I think its important that a kid is just getting wants them, and no one what he needsfood, health care, love. You really have to wants them for a reason, so I instill into a kid [that] . . . you have a right to be happy. You think theyre almost seen as a have a right not to be hit. You have a right to nourishment. lost cause. You have a right to love. . . . I just think everybody deserves Jelani, former foster youth a family when theyre young. Being taken from my parents didnt bother me. . . . But being torn away from my brothers and sisters . . . they were my whole life. . . . It was probably the most painful thing in the world. They told me I would be able to see them a lot, but I was lucky to see them at all. I was only six when I went into John, former foster child foster care. I remember vividly My sisters and brother had to eat, he said. So I would go through dumpsters to get them food, and I stole baby formula for my little sister. I helped Kristina learn how to walk and how to be toilet-trained. I changed Emilys www.fosterskills.org diapers. just sitting outside the courthouse . . . my birth mother crying. And then suddenly, I was living somewhere else, in some house I didnt know. No one told me anything. For five years, no one told me anything.

Foster Skills: About Us

Short Term Goals

Provide life plans for kids that help to children to self advocate Teach essential skills that will set the foundation for youth to achieve life success Decrease emotional stress facing foster care youth by providing emotional support systems and access to former foster youth Encourage foster youth to share their voice

Long Term Goals

Create productive citizens that that function independently and strive to reach their potential.
Increase Educational Opportunities thereby increasing the number of Foster Youth that achieve in school and decreasing the number of youth that commit crime Develop a proven Youth Development Model Create National Awareness to promote best practices

Foster Skills, Inc. |shape a life. build a future.

About Us Structure Program Initiatives Road to Success WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT Foster Skills is unique in the fact that it was started and is currently being managed by a former foster youth who once found himself in the same shoes as the youth they are now striving to help. As former foster children who lived many of the same experiences as the youth who involved with Foster Skills, they will be able to share knowledge and understanding that is second to none.

Foster Skills: Governing Board

Below is current structure of the Governing Board. The core functions are essential to the organizations day-to-day operations. The primary functions of the board are to provide the tangible resource to help foster youths, increase the number of yearly committed donors, and to provide assess the organizational goals of Foster Skills. to help foster youth, assess.
Function 1 Function 2 Function 3 Function 4

Donors

Assessment

DRYVE Organization s

Resource

Foster Skills: Advisory Council

Below is current structure of the Advisory Board. The core functions are essential to the program and internal operations of Foster Skills Program. The overarching buckets central focus are on program development opportunities, policy effecting children, and the foster youths continued success.
Function 1 Function 2 Function 3 Function 4

National Awareness

Aging Out Task Force

Foster Parent Task Force

Alumni Affairs

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Organizational Chart and Officer Duties

Below is the current Executive Team structure of the Foster Skills. The core positions are essential to the internal operation of the organization. The support position focuses on key on cross-functional activities. The executive teams holds the ultimate decision-making power or the organization.

Executive Team
President Director of Special Initiatives

Manage Associates. Implement Curriculum.

Manage Strategic Relationships. Evaluate processes. Manage Information Systems and Social Media

Executive Director

Director of Technology

VP of Community Involvement

VP Creative

SVP of Corp. Relations

SVP of Development

SVP of Accounting

SVP of Program Operations

Nurture relationships with Community Partners. Ensure we are keeping our ear to the ground with things involving the Foster Care community

Manage, market, and develop our brand, find innovate strategies to advertise Use creative techniques and strategies that will add to revenue streams

Develop and nurture relationships with multinational companies Secure National/ and Initiative Sponsors

Create fundraising initiatives and develop strategies to increase companies revenue streams. Implement strategies that will grow organization

Manage finances, accounts, develop budgets, and ensure compliance with IRS. Find ways to use our accounts to increase revenue. Help to manage National Sponsors relationships

Legend Legend
Core Position Cross Functional Position

Develop an interactive curriculum to increase youth responsiveness. Evaluate Curriculum Establish work plans to evaluate growth and performance. Secure program participants every year Manage Parent-Child Relationships

Responsibilities

Executive Team Committees

Fichera Cabrera Sernicki

Cabrera Padovano Sernicki Coopchik

Cabrera Su Gay

Legend Executive Committee Brand, Creative, & Tech Administrative Budget Legend& Finance Development Program & Services National Sponsors DRYVE Community Partners

Padovano Coopchik

Everyone

Su Sernicki Cabrera

Swerdlowe Fichera Flaherty

Cabrera Gay Fichera

Coopchik Fichera Swerdlowe

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Organizational Structure Associates

Below is the structure for Foster Skillss Associates. The Associates are focused on developing and mentoring youth, and growing Foster Skills the organization.

Note: It's important to have a bond/ personal relationship with mentees and we know that it is easier to develop a bond with someone closer in age. Our Associates will be hardworking, movers and shakers. The roles focus strategically on projects.
President
Vice President of Program Operations

Executive Director Associates

Responsibilities of Associates

Manage & Create Relationships with Program Participants

Fostering Professional Development and Skill Building

Perform Program Model Duties & Building the foster youth

Create ongoing journal

Connect with Community

Project Lead

Associates lead projects on an on-going basis. One VP should be centrally responsible for each project lead. The President, Vice President of Program Operations, or ED can fill this role. This project lead role is temporary for the duration of the project and allows for other Associates to step up and contribute.

Legend Legend
Core Position Support Position

Project Member

Project Member

Project Member

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Associates will be apart of projects and support a Project Leads. The leadership should be actively helping the Project Lead to recruit members for the Project. Associates will rotate project leads.

Foster Skills, Inc. | shape a life. build a future.

About Us Structure Community Program Life Preparation Initiatives Road to Success Modeling Self-Management
The below hierarchy allows for skill building. All skills provided within said curriculum are for constant and continued learning. Its significant to build a solid foundation, thereby building the child into a productive citizen.

Foster Skills, Inc: Target Population

Who do we work with?

Advanced Degrees
CXO job opportunities and training

Graduate

Foster Skills Primary Focus Areas (PFAs)

Management opportunities and training

College

Connect to internships and job opportunities Exposure to different professions and Career Paths/Planning Professional development & exposure to different professions Continue professional development

High School

Middle School

The target population of the organization will be foster youth in High School. Foster Skills program participants will mentor middle school participants

Elementary

Pre-School

Foster professional skills and independence

Educational Pipeline

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Professional Pipeline

Foster Skills Program Model

PROGRAM GOAL
Develop foster youth into productive citizens. Foster Skills will reach to high school age youth who are currently in foster care. Foster Skills will offer these youth an opportunity to develop important life skills that will expand their opportunities and give them the tools necessary to reach their goals. The program will offer a wide variety of both social and professional skills that will help these youth to prosper in all aspects of their lives. In addition to offering youth in foster care the opportunity to learn and develop important life skills. Foster Skills will also connect these youth to the resources and opportunities available to them through other agencies and programs. Many youth in Foster Care are not aware of the resources available to them. Foster Skills will act as a bridge for these youth to help them reach their fullest potential.

PROGRAM DESIGN
Host a creative, interactive weekly skill-building workshop for foster youth involved in the program. Each monthly workshop will focus on separate skills or set of skills, and each month will build off of skills learned during previous months. During the workshop, trained student ambassadors will work with the youth to develop the monthly skill through individual and group activities. The workshop will divide youth into groups based on age, stage of development, and level of need. Each group will use appropriate teaching tools and activities to give the youth a solid understanding of the skill and an opportunity to put the skill into practice through individual or group activities.
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Program Development
These are the core progressive youth development stages designed to grow youth into productive citizens. Future phase activities are dependant on Foster Youths responses to program model.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Primary Focus

Provide mentors to Foster Youth during their transition from Middle School to High School

Open and promote critical thinking Create role models

Prepare for life after High School Acquire Internship Experience Hire foster kids for development Have youth help make a difference by drafting by policy Develop social awareness

Introduce Students to Life Mentors Develop life skills

Establish focus for youth

Grow the individual Listen to Youth Self-Awareness

Goal Plan
Develop creativity Build Leaders Fundraise/ Advocate

Create Direction
Assess current structure and strategic direction Update Curriculum

Benefits

Create a solid foundation and process

Develop tough exterior and reinforce resiliency

Instill holistic methods Provide real world experience Prepare for life after High School

Establish lndependence Connect youth to opportunities Ensure life success

Rejuvenated self-worth and confident individual

Create a solid foundation and processes

Establish know how in a variety of areas

Educate about Foster Care

Who do we work with?

The target population of the organization will be foster youth in High School. Foster Skills program participants will mentor middle school participants.
Foster Skills Primary Focus Areas

Exposure: social structures and world culture

Opportunities: education, entrepreneur ship apprenticeships and internships, and public advocacy
Community Activism: empower youth to change their communities and ameliorate other lives

Foster Skills operates to provide equip foster youth with tools to be successful when they go out into the world.

Foster Skills, Inc. | shape a life. build a future.

About Us Structure Program

Initiatives Road to Success

Foster Skills Initiatives

MyHome

I=US

I=US (cont..)

DRYVE DRYVE Secure tangible materials for children that are necessary for life success. Organizations: Cradles for Crayons Dress for Success No Kid Hungry Barnes and Noble/ Gutman

TEEN-UP
Our FosterUp initiative will allow for us to connect foster youth with other foster youth. The notion driving this idea is teamup. Have Foster Youth team-up, or in this instance teen-up to help each other overcome and beat the odds.

MyVoice
MyVoice falls directly under the I=US initiative; and allows foster youth to share their story to the public, if they want. This is a powerful tool that will allow us to create national awareness. FS Documentary An outlet for awareness

MyHome is a web portal that holds a multitude of resources for all Foster Youth. One of the main components is a Message Board for youth to communicate.

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Foster Skills, Inc. | shape a life. build a future.

About Us Structure Program Initiatives Road to Success
Below is the Foster Skills recipe for program success.

Believe A Difference Can Be Made Put Kids First Moccasin The Children

Develop
Think Big Push Limits Set-Bar High

Self-Advocates Organization Best Practices

Share
Fundraise Partner-Up Create National Awareness Evolve Organization

Heal

Build

Foster Skills Theory of Change

Visions For Results Family Engagement Broad Alliances Economic Connections

Connect foster youth and organizations Enhance Capacity Create Conditions Identify Opportunities Bring Knowledge

Systems Transformation

The Team

Local Movement

Individual Transformation

SCALE

Social Connections

Powerful Strategies
Impact, Influence, Leverage

Results For Foster Youth & Neighborhoods

Leadership Building

Successful Foster Youth

Promote learning Build Relationships

Reduce Barriers

Foster Public Will

Identify and strengthen local energy

Transforming Systems Capacity to Sustain

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Service Connections

Leverage resources

Data & Learning

Organizational Transformation

Social Supports and Quality Services

Foster Skills Theory of Success

Theory of Success is a model for evaluating success. Our mission will never change, however our vision may. To create an everlasting impact we must always ask appropriate questions.

What are the problems were trying to solve? Foster Youth are under achieving because they are put in circumstances that are beyond their control. The emotional stressors, coupled with the unstable environments has led to an army of children that are not equipped with the necessary tools to be productive citizens.

Theory of Problem

Theory of Change

Vision & Mission

What are the levers we can use to cause positive change? The levers we can draw on are: experience in the foster care system, work and volunteer experience, community, families, data, and relationships.

Theory of Action

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What are the unique strategies and activities we can employ to maximize scale of impact? Our program model is innovative and based on empirical research. In addition, we will focus our efforts on national marketing campaigns while employing business strategies to increase our effectiveness.

Organization Management
The grid below depicts the strategic focus areas of the organization and shows the key areas of responsibility. The Together We Foster Skills campaign holds a National Focus, and Foster Skills HQ holds a Regional Focus in the Massachusetts and future satellite sites.

Strategic
Fundraising Networking (VP of Social Engagement) Advocacy & Service (VP of Advocacy & Service) How are Champions and Donors being engaged to advocate and serve?

The questions are to help management gauge how active or inactive they are in the strategic focus areas to identify gaps and address needs

Champions and Donors

How is Foster Skills image? Champions Opinions

How are Champions and Donors being socially engaged?

Target Market

Program Participants/ Alum (ED, VP ProOps, Advisory Board)

How are students being professionally developed?

How are students being socially engaged?

How are students being engaged to advocate and serve?

Community

Legend Regional Focus

How is the community at large being professionally developed?

How is the community at large being socially engaged?

National Focus

How is the community at large being engaged to advocate and serve?

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Activity Assessment
Sites Phases have been established to depict the evolution of the organization in order to assure consistency, strength, and growth.
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5

Initiation

Promoting

Pilot

Planning

Launch

Primary Focus

Gauging interest in the region Publicizing Foster Skills in the region Communicating Chapter Initiation process Identifying Alpha Lead

Establishing a local network of Champions Collecting contact information of individuals interested in being members Identifying potential board members

Stimulating further interest Finalizing the A-Team Communicating activity to broader membership and gaining support

Communicating activity to broader Donors Orienting the new board members Establishing the regional vision

Building the organization within the region Establishing consistent communications Completing initiatives in order to serve the membership

Communication is sent to region Individual expresses interest in initiating Sponsor from the National Board identified Conference call takes place with board Board designates Alpha Lead

Milestones

Kick-off networking event completed Initial list of individuals interested in A-Team positions created

Alpha Lead submits ATeam list and reviews with National Board National Board recognizes A-Team (Regional Board)

Team Training & Vision Workshop Complete (Pt. 1) Initial project grid created Second event held Team Training & Vision Workshop Complete (Pt. 2) Initial project grid finalized Calendar of board meetings and initiative timelines created

List of general body membership created Regular communications A Networking, Professional Development & Community Initiative have been completed X number of general members recruited

Obtain a board member sponsor to guide chapter formation Lead provides National Board updates Bi-Monthly via email

Alpha Lead and sponsor are the first official region board members (A-Team) Sponsor assists the Lead where needed and together they operate as a team

National Board members give periodic feedback Regional activity now run by A-Team Sponsor is no longer part of A-Team

Guidelines

Sponsor will lead workshop Regional plans communicated to National Board

Regular meetings are held

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Foster Skills Measuring Success

Program Success: Foster Skills impact will be felt right off the bat because the organization is a connector and major resource. The services provided to children in foster care are tailored to benefit the child and community Empirical Data States we recruit to the cause # of applicants interested # of volunteers Yearly Program Evaluations: Elise Dallimore Yearly Organization Assessments: Jessica Kong Student Success: Brenda Berkelaar - Numbers showing: For example, numbers show that kids in foster care are not committing crime at a high rate and their literacy rates are going up. Resources secured. Dress Clothes. Books. Anecdotes A kid stating that we impacted their life (anecdotal). Parents talks about our impact Talks about changes in child Associates Anecdotes Reason why someone donated. Press about the positive work we are doing in the community Reached Goals Reached Goals Empowerment. We show we are very good at something. Whether that be one thing or two things. That kids need this one thing we are going to provide. So, we can pick a skill that we will teach kids that no one else has. That's why I think finance, advance comp skills, and mechanical writing

www.fosterskills.org

Evolution of the Organization

In the future this will reflect our impact.

FY 2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Organization Activity

Building Curriculum Developing Internal Controls Meeting with community leaders Attending community events to bring attention to Foster Skills

Bring on Board od Directors Develop partnerships with community organizations Attending community events to bring attention to Foster Skills Develop Policy Initiative w/ Greg Goodales Class

Pivot on program, and develop 8-week workforce development program Advise on housing policy Bring on social media person to focus on brand Learn about impact investment models and potentially figure out how to develop a for-profit IGA (income-generatingactivity). Develop 3 policy initiatives: 1 judge, 1 family; educational stability act Foster Care Awareness Rally

Milestones Reached

Becoming an officially recognized 501(C)3 Bridging Connection with DCF to work with children Launching Website

Organization rebrand Worked with 450 Kids Launched MyHome

Harvard Law School Town Hall on Foster Care YARN Program EOP & The Home Meeting with Mayor Meninos Staff

Treehouse/Foster Care Event Taskforce Event Congressional Caucus Following Party Together We Rise-Foster Skills Holiday Toy Campaign

General Catalyst Event Dell Social Innovation Challenge Congressional Caucus Following Party

Key Events

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