What have others done?
You’ve heard stories about how educators can touch the lives of children in care. Before you revisit your action plan, think about what you can do even if you’re not a teacher and listen below to what others have done for former Wisconsin foster youth. Don’t underestimate the power of small acts of interest and compassion.
“To just invest his time in me”
Transcript
“Elementary school, I would normally get done with my work quicker than the rest of the other kids. And either I would be able to have some free time or I would get off track. But there was a security guard – he would come in every now and then and play chess with me, or checkers. He did that several, on several occasions throughout the weeks, so that kind of helped me as a young man and on an academic level. So... For him to just invest his time in me like that, just playing a game like chess, you know, he’s a grown man, has his own kids, 30 years old, and I’m still in elementary school. To me, looking back, it kind of seems profound. I haven’t seen or spoke to him since, but I still remember those times when we would play chess, and sometimes I would beat him.”
Before you go, remember that some of the most effective things you can do are simply to provide encouragement and support. Social support from teachers and other school staff is correlated with school engagement and academic success. Don’t underestimate the power of small acts of interest and compassion.
“The advice I would give...”
Transcript
“The advice I would give counselors and teachers would be to not categorize us as foster kids or any different just because they know or heard of our situation. Also to look at it as that we all have our problems of our own that we tend to struggle with.”
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