Support Our Foster Youth (SOFY) empowers foster youth and alumni to utilize their support network, achieve their goals, and “Be the Change”!
The Fostering Change Network Foundation offers a five-week program focused on the Five Pillars of Success with emphasizes coaching, life-skills, experiential learning, and mentoring circles.
The SOFY - Be The Change Program is centered on supporting and guiding foster youth and alumni of foster care towards the completion of educational goals and launching a career.
-Spring Co-hort: February 23 - March 23, 2021-
For any immediate questions please contact Kimberly Rhyan at kimberly@fcnfoundation.org
THE FIVE PILLARS
Click each of our Pillars below to dive into what we will provide for your success.
The Program
The FCN Foundaton offers an intensive five-week Virtual Program for 2021-2022 enrolled students, ages 18-30 (including College or Other Post-Secondary Education).
Each participant must complete a SOFY application by February 19, 2021.
SOFY provides coaches for mentees throughout the program. This program also purposefully includes many components designed to help support your success to attain your post-secondary education goals. We are an intentional learning community focused on transitions, refection, transformation, education and education. Are you ready to BE THE CHANGE?
Upon completion of the program, participants will be eligible for a SOFY Stipend of up to $500, paid towards an education expense or expense that would prevent them from enrolling in or completing their educational program (College, G.E.D., Vocational Training Program, etc.).
WORKSHOPS
How to Advocate for Yourself and Build Self-Efficacy
As foster youth, there are times that we have lost control over our lives and we have to navigate barriers or setbacks. We need to practice our rights and responsibilities by taking steps to regaining our sense of control by successfully advocating for ourselves. All the while, we can develop our strengths and weaknesses to become the best version of ourselves. Ultimately, we can experience resiliency and increase our self-esteem to work toward recovery while celebrating our full worth. This session is focused on achieving your full and unlimited potential! Participants will learn how to be an agent of your own success, know yourself, speak up for what you need and create connections of impact. Showing up is just half the battle. Are you ready?
How to Utilize Your Communication Tools and Make the Most of Your Connections/Resources
Networking isn’t a skill you will find on a resume, but it is key to promoting yourself and your aspirations. Are you open to listening, as much as being heard? Who is your support system and how do you leverage your network for mutually beneficial outcomes? Your network includes who you have known in the past, your current connections and all of the potential people you could know in the future. This session will focus on building relationships, mapping your network, developing an elevator speech, understanding personality types, reviewing networking etiquette, and implementing a networking plan. LinkedIn, social media and other technology tools will also be explored to discuss the pros and cons of making meaningful connections. During the session, participants will also develop and share their elevator speeches to gather feedback for growth. Are you ready?
How to Create, Prioritize, and Implement an Action Plan for Your Success
Mapping a plan requires thoughtful creation of SMART goals, action steps and outcomes. This session will focus on creating a vision for your life by identifying educational and professional goals and including what success would look like if you fulfilled your life’s mission. Strategies will be introduced to establish clear steps to ensure goals can be accomplished. Participants will draft their action plans and share their visions with the group. All participants will complete their action plan with their coach and share at the last SOFY Mentoring Circle. The goal for this session is to learn strategies and steps to fulfill your goals to make your dreams a reality. Are you ready?
How to Align Your Passion with Your Education and Career
To find your purpose, you have to dig deep and ask yourself, 1) what do you love? 2) What Are you good at? 3) what does the World need? And 4) What can you be paid for? During this session, you will be challenged to think about who you want to become and what is your reason for being. Kimberly Rhyan shares her journey of discovery and challenges participants to be reflective in order to map out your vision and purpose. During this session, you will be equipped with strategies to explore your future career and build your own advisory board. Ultimately, participants will be empowered with practices that will move you forward in your career. The goal for this session is to inspire and provide instructions on the steps to fulfilling your purpose. Are you ready?
How to Build Your Resiliency Through Your Strengths
This session is centered on creating a brave space where everyone knows that it’s safe to be your authentic self. Active listening will be reviewed and practiced. How do you show up in the world when you have been hurt? Trauma and triggers will be discussed in depth, including how triggers can become lessons for growth. Key resilience factors will also be introduced and participants will create an action plan on how to grow during your journey. Participants will examine their strengths and focus on addressing barriers by developing protective factors and using strengths to bounce back from adversity.This session requires heart work, as well as hard work. The goal of this session is to help foster youth/alumni successes better understand their story and trauma to develop strategies to build resiliency through your strengths. Are you ready?
Spring 2021 Calendar
February 19, 2021
Applications Due
February 22 - March 23, 2020
7:00 - 8:30 PM | Five Weekly Workshops/Mentoring Circles (Using Zoom)
*In order to qualify for the SOFY Grant, participants must attend Workshops & Coaching sessions (via the Alumni Coaching Program).
GETTING TOGETHER
Location
The SOFY Program is hosted virtually. The program will utilize Zoom and a mentoring app!
Technology
Participants will be sent links to access zoom meetings; participants need access to a computer to attend virtual sessions.
APPLY NOW!
Applicants must complete and submit their application by: February 19, 2021
The following criteria must be met to be considered:
All students/aspiring students (University, College, Vocational Program, Apprenticeship, etc.)
In or from Foster Care
Ages 18-30
