The Season of Holidays or "Hella[cious] Days" for Foster Youth?!

In scheduling guests for our Holiday programming there were intially no volunteers. When a follow-up notice went out, one response was: "Often foster youth cannot recall good holiday memories" All the more reason why this week Ms. E will discuss ways caregivers and "the village" can help foster youth expereience and hold positive holiday memories; as well as healthy coping mechanisms current and former foster youth can use to create positive Holiday experiences and memories. Special Guest Ms. Nicole Marchman, states she was "one of those youth" having grown up in 11 foster and group homes from the age of 11 to 18 years old. Nicole now holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of South Florida , and is pursuing a Masters in Social Work from Florida State University (FSU) with a focus on Child Welfare Policy. Her mission is to bring changes within the foster care system; and she's already well on her way as she currently serves in the position of Deputy Intern Coordinator & Child Welfare Associate with the US Senate Committee on Finance in Washington DC! In continuing her mission to bring changes within the foster care system Nicole plans to travel to Prague to work in an orphanage this summer with FSU International School of Social Work Program, to complete a child welfare class; travel to Trinidad in January 2012 for three months to complete a graduate school field placement, again working in a orphanage; and upon completion of her graduate degree, become a fost-adopt parent.