Just…Listen

By AMBER LINDAMOOD

February 14, 2018.
I’m sitting in a middle row in my Social Work 506 Research Methods class, feeling like I’m about to throw up, hands sweating, heart racing. My phone rings. As it vibrates on my desk, I stare at it in wonder—not knowing if I should answer it or not, knowing it holds information that will change my summer….and life.

A month prior, I had just started my second quarter of grad school. I was feeling fresh, excited to be taking a different set of classes, and eager for new opportunities. Researching TedTalks for an assignment late one night, I came across an opportunity of a lifetime: a D.C. internship designed specifically for foster youth. This summer-long internship allows foster care alumni the opportunity to write a child welfare policy report that reflects personal experience and best practices. The interns present this report to Members of Congress at the end of the summer. I Googled it to see if it was legit (it was) and found out I had a little over a week to complete all of the required application materials.

I grabbed my backpack, and after what seemed like a LIFETIME, I went outside and answered my phone. I was greeted by a kind voice from a woman in D.C. stating, “This year we had a large number of applicants, and while we were impressed with your application and resume….”

Was my essay not profound? Does this agency really care about the future of kids just like me? Am I not good enough? Smart enough? Why don’t they like me?

“…we’re excited to offer you a spot in this year’s Foster Youth Internship Program.”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

June 20, 2018.
Celebrating my fourth week in D.C., I close my notebook and begin to cry. It’s been a long and emotionally draining week, and though many emotions have been stirred in my heart, I don’t feel alone.

I was removed from my biological family at the age of six due to severe allegations of abuse and neglect. Food insecurity, addiction, and physical and emotional abuse are all parts of my story that brought me into care. Many times my lived experience left me feeling isolated and alone, and I felt that no one understood or truly cared about what I was going through. All I wanted was someone to listen to and invest in me, and for the longest time, I didn’t have that—or feel worthy enough to receive it.

I sit at my desk after finishing a heart-wrenching constituent phone call, and I’m brought back to this space. In the back of my mind, I see myself as a little girl, big brown eyes sparkling, looking to my mother for some sign of visibility and recognition.

As I center myself back into the current moment, I begin to realize my past experiences weren’t all in vain, and that this feeling isn’t truly a phenomenon. The longing to be heard and valued are expressed and felt by folks all over the world, and working in my congressional office has provided me with a tiny glimpse of these experiences all over the country.

How would our world be different if we made listening and validation a normal part of life?

How would this change our families, communities, and government?

As I continue on my policy writing and self-actualization journey, I encourage you to join me by reflecting on your personal life experiences and how you invest into the lives of people around you. What are your passions? How can we use our strengths to better others?  When was the last time we set our phones aside, looked someone in the eyes, and just soaked in the moment?

I truly believe that everyone longs to be seen and valued, and all we need to do is listen.

By TERRENCE SCRAGGINS

Like many applicants to CCAI’s extremely competitive Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program®, I applied to this internship multiple times. The first time I applied was several years ago. It was spring of 2009, and I was a new high school graduate with only a year and a half of college under my belt. I was not yet well-versed on or even ready to take such a big leap into the intimidating Capitol Hill lifestyle. Here I am nearly ten years later, and I made the cut!

If you had asked me ten years ago if I had planned to fail out of school, join the US Navy, return to that same school and recently be admitted to Boise State University’s School of Social Work, I would’ve laughed. Yet, here I am doing it with pride!

Don’t be fooled though; it isn’t all fun and games. There is definitely a lot of fun involved, but there is also so much hard work and dedication asked of me.

When I accepted this internship, I had no idea what to expect. As a foster care alum, I knew from experience that you should never try to set expectations concerning the unknown as it typically only sets you up for disappointment. The Foster Youth Internship Program® is such a unique program. I chose to set no expectations, and for that, I am so glad.

So far, this has been one of the greatest and most humbling experiences I have been fortunate enough to be involved with. I get to tell my story while also working with and meeting individuals who can make an impact—people who have the ability to make history through policies and laws.

Having 11 other brilliant and like-minded adults as fellow FYIs whose stories and backgrounds are similar to mine has been so helpful. When we first arrived, we attended a retreat where we had quality bonding time. I learned so much about myself as well as about each individual’s specific story. Feeling support from peers who have gone and are going through similar aspects of my life was so rewarding. We have a connection many others are unable to attain. We are all using our own life experiences, both positive and negative, to foster change. This is extremely empowering for me! Not to mention the positive vibe we all have. Not once have I felt made fun of or judged for the way I think or what I say.

On a lighter note, having never been to our nation’s capital before this internship, I can’t get enough of D.C. culture! As a beginning/intermediate runner, I’ve begun to incorporate national landmarks into my runs. On our second or third day here, a couple of my fellow cohort members and I ran to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. I’ve also run to the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial and along the Potomac River. I would have to say the most impactful monument I have been to thus far was the WWII Memorial. The history and meaning behind it gave me chills. This memorial shed new light on our country’s history and culture. I hope to visit the African American History Museum as well as the Holocaust Memorial Museum as these are also crucial pages in American history.

What I’m trying to say in not so many words is that CCAI is doing great things. To say I’m in D.C. is a blessing within itself. I sincerely look forward to continuing to immerse myself in our nation’s capital and its intricate culture. I also look forward to helping pave the way for youth in care who need us now more than ever. They are the real heroes and deserve so much credit.

If you haven’t been to our nation’s capital yet, you must go at some point—it will change your life!

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2018 –The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), in partnership with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), announced the newest CCA co-chair for the 115^th Congress: Representative Robert Aderholt of Alabama.

The CCA is the largest bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Member organization and works to engage Members of Congress on issues pertaining to children in need of permanency and adoption, children in the foster care system, and domestic and international child welfare, as well as to advocate for every child’s right to a safe, stable and loving family. The role of the CCA co-chairs is to lead and actively engage their colleagues in Congress and draft and support federal policies that help place children in families.

Representative Aderholt is serving his 11^th term in Congress and is a member of the powerful Committee on Appropriations. Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Aderholt was an aide to Alabama Governor Fob James, and a Municipal Judge. Aderholt and his family are longtime supporters of CCAI, adoption, foster youth and child welfare issues. Since his first days as a Member of Congress, he has sponsored and co-sponsored dozens of bills relating to adoption and child welfare issues, and over the years Rep. Aderholt has made clear his commitment to children without families, whether through assisting families in his own state and district, participating in CCAI’s Angels in Adoption® Program, advocating for preservation of the adoption tax credit, or responding to international crises such as the Russian ban on intercountry adoption that impacted hundreds of American families who were in the process of adopting. In 2016, Rep. Aderholt joined CCAI on a 20/20 Vision Program congressional delegation to Haiti, which moved him deeply and strengthened his commitment to elevating family care for orphans and vulnerable children as a priority for the U.S. government.

“I am honored to be the new Republican House Co-Chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. I look forward to working with my co-chairs and colleagues to promote adoption among U.S. families and in our policies and laws. Adoption is such a wonderful choice and I will do all I can to help more children find their forever families,” Aderholt said.

Aderholt will join CCA’s current three co-chairs: Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Representative Brenda Lawrence of Michigan.

“The Congressional Coalition on Adoption plays a pivotal role in advancing policies to protect foster youth and promote adoption,” said Blunt. “As a champion for foster youth and adoptive families, Rep. Aderholt will be a strong addition to the team. I look forward to working with him and the CCA to continue our effort to help more children find the safe, loving home they deserve.”

By joining the CCA, Members of Congress have the opportunity to participate in programs and events throughout the year that allow them to interact with vulnerable children and youth, the families that care for them, and subject matter experts to hear the stories of the challenges and opportunities they experience and to strengthen federal policy with this information.

“As Senate co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption I’ve worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help make the adoption process better for families across our country. As the new House co-chair, Rep. Aderholt will be an important advocate for adoptive families as we work to ensure that every child has a safe home and a loving family,” Klobuchar said.

Lawrence said, “Our adoptive and foster youth are deserving of strong advocates in Congress. Because of his indisputable passion and dedication to serving some of the most vulnerable populations, I am proud to welcome Rep. Aderholt as the new Co-Chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. I look forward to working with him as we fight for children in need of a permanent and loving family.” 

The co-chairs and CCA are supported by CCAI, the non-profit institute dedicated to raising awareness about children in need of families both domestically and internationally and to eliminating the policy barriers that hinder children from finding their forever families.

“We are so pleased that Representative Aderholt is stepping into this leadership role in the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to child welfare and adoption policy. CCAI looks forward to supporting him and his staff in the co-chair role as a resource,” said Becky Weichhand, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

For more than 30 years, CCA Members have led Congress in the passage of legislation that has dramatically improved the lives of children and families including the “Adoption and Safe Families Act,” the “John Chafee Foster Care Independence Act,” the “Promoting Safe and Stable Families Act,” the “Hope for Children Act,” the “Intercountry Adoption Act,” the “Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoptions Act,” and the “Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act.” Most recently, many CCA Members supported the passage of the “Family First Prevention and Services Act.”

Today there are over 437,000 children in foster care, and nearly 118,000 of these children are eligible for adoption, waiting for families to call their own. Children living in orphanages globally are estimated conservatively at eight million, with unknown numbers living on the streets.

………………………………………..

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (www.ccainstitute.org) is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that serves as an objective, educational resource for information critical to advancing the efforts of federal policymakers on behalf of children in need of families. This year, CCAI’s Angels in Adoption® Program celebrates its 20^th year, and the Foster Youth Internship Program® celebrates its 15^th anniversary. Both programs are beloved by Members of Congress and bring the voices of experience in foster care and adoption to the halls of power in the U.S. Congress. To learn more about CCAI, follow the organization on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ccainstitute), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/theccai) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/ccainstitute).