NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Adolescents in foster care need additional support as they explore their racial, spiritual and gender identities, according to a new report by from Connecticut Voices for Children.

The teenage years are when children are questioning who they are and their place in the world.

For those in foster care, unstable placements, trauma and the bias associated with being in foster care add stress to that critical developmental process.

Of the more than 1,500 teens in foster care in Connecticut, Stephanie Luczak, co-author of the report and a child development policy fellow with Connecticut Voices for Children, points out that almost 60 percent of those who entered the system as teens experience three or more placement changes while in care.

"This lack of stability can disrupt their identity development and have long lasting effects,” she points out. “Added stress has an impact on their self-esteem as well as their confidence."

The report notes the state's Department of Children and Families has improved support for youth in foster care, but says caseworkers and foster families often lack training in identity development.

Jessica Nelson, another co-author and an associate fellow with Connecticut Voices for Children, says the report grew out of listening to teens in foster care at Youth Advisory Boards around the state, as they discussed their experiences.

"We found a pattern of them talking about their religious identity, their racial identity and their sexuality and gender identity, and how these facets of themselves were impacted by foster care," Nelson relates.

She adds that youth who feel their identities are not being fully supported may suffer serious mental health effects.

Luczak says the report recommendations include recruiting a more diverse pool of foster parents, bolstering protections for youth who identify as LGBTQ, and updating the Adolescent Bill of Rights and Expectations.

"To incorporate protections and supports for identity development,” she explains. “This also includes implementing a process for adolescents to receive and understand these rights."


get more stories like this via email

A new public service announcement spotlights a Michigan teen, in and out of foster homes, who was adopted after a holiday visit turned into a permanent stay.

The PSA is part of a national campaign by the Dave Thomas Foundation, focusing on what it is like to bounce between foster homes, to finally finding a place to belong.

Almost three years ago, Bridgett, 15, faced losing her foster home at Christmas until her high school principal, Jeremy Wright and his wife Jenny, who already had a son, offered her a temporary stay. The visit ultimately became a permanent, loving home. Together, Jeremy, Jenny and Bridgett shared highlights of their adoption journey.

"There's a bunch of kids out there that need structure and need a family, and it's kind of sad but it's also rewarding and challenging," Jeremy said.

"When I look back now on the journey that we've had the past two and a half years, I'm so much better for it," Jenny recounted.

"It feels good to be adopted," Bridgett added.

About 3,000 children in Michigan are in foster care and legally available for adoption. Nearly 300 do not have an identified adoptive family and are actively waiting for a permanent home.

Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted himself, became a vocal adoption advocate, testifying before Congress, expanding efforts to Canada, helping launch the U.S. adoption stamp in 2000 and appearing in PSAs.

Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the foundation, emphasized how their PSAs continue to play a vital role in raising awareness.

"It just opens people's eyes, I think, to the fact that it's an absolute human right to have a family, and to have a safe and loving family," Soronen explained.

The foundation focuses on helping children who are, on average, around 14 years old, and about 87% of them have a diagnosed special need, such as ADHD or the effects of trauma.

By Enrique Saenz for Mirror Indy.
Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration.

For more than seven decades, the Wilbur Shaw Memorial Soap Box Derby Hill has served as a place for Indianapolis families with the need for speed to get their thrills.

The 1,000-foot hill on West 20th Street near Marian University is the country’s longest track. At the city park, drivers climb into aerodynamic fiberglass cars on top of the hill and harness the power of gravity to get to the bottom as fast as possible.

Indianapolis Soap Box Derby racers go downhill at speeds of more than 30 miles per hour — fast enough to get a speeding ticket in some parts of the city.

Racers meet at the hill several times a year for races. They accrue points at the events that allow some to compete at the national level — the Soap Box Derby World Championships in Akron, Ohio.

For 13-year old Shelton Taylor, soap box racing is in his blood. His great uncle was a soap box racer, but Taylor didn’t become involved in the sport until a fateful drive past the Wilbur Shaw Hill.

“Me and my mom were driving past the track, and we saw a whole bunch of people just coming down the track. She asked me if I wanted to do it. I said, ‘Yeah,’ so she did a U-turn to the top of the gate,” Taylor said.

Taylor signed up, learned how to race and a few years later became the Indianapolis 2024 All American Super Stock Challenge champion, the first African American to do so.

His father, Marvin Taylor, sees soap box derby racing as a family sport.

“It’s a good sport for young kids to get involved in,” Marvin Taylor said. “It’s something different than basketball or soccer. It’s just like the Indy 500 without an engine.”

It’s not just Indianapolis families that come to the hill. Families from around the Midwest and the South make the trip to Indianapolis’ west side to compete.

The Weaver family makes the trek from Owensboro, Kentucky several times a year.

The kids, 12-year-old Melanie and 13-year-old Brandon, drive the cars — and parents Eddie and Effie act as the pit crew.

“We quickly realized it’s a family sport. It’s one of the only sports where parent involvement is critical. It’s like you’re a team with your child,” said Effie Weaver.

For the driver, racing is a thrill. They go down the hill with their heads tucked in to increase speed. They control the car through a pulley system found inside the frame. Drivers only expose a small bit of their face to reduce drag. As a result, they can only see a small portion of track ahead of them and must plan their moves ahead of time.

“At first, I was like, ‘So you’re telling me I’m going down a hill in a plastic car with a wood bottom, and you’re expecting me to trust that,’” said Melanie Weaver. “It’s fun, but at the same time it’s a little stressful.”

More experienced racers drive sleek cars, called Masters Cars, where they essentially drive lying on their back. They wear a helmet that reduces wind resistance but leaves only a small crack between the bottom of the helmet and the top of the car frame through which the driver can see.

Haughville resident William Pickens, 16, drives a Masters Car, but his 6-foot, 2-inch tall frame has to slowly squeeze into a car designed for, at most, a 6-foot-tall child.

“My feet do hit the end of the car, but it’s not that bad,” Pickens said.

The sport is open to children and young adults ages 7 to 20. Indianapolis Soap Box Derby director Bob Getts said the association helps families get into the sport by having cars that families can use to start racing.

“We have more cars than kids right now, and we try to make it easy for families to try and see if it’s something for them,” he said. “We get them in one of our cars, let them get the thrill of the hill and see where it goes from there.”

Car prices range from $700 to $1,500, but the association helps racers find sponsors to defray the cost.

The International Soap Box Derby, the Indianapolis association’s parent organization, also has a program for children with disabilities called the Super Kids League. The league uses two-seat, dual-control derby cars that pairs kids with an experienced co-pilot to compete.

To learn more about the Indianapolis Soap Box Derby, head to the association’s website or call 317-446-5462.


Enrique Saenz wrote this article for Mirror Indy.


get more stories like this via email

A group of Washington youths, fresh from a grassroots leadership development program, is speaking up against the Trump Administration's plans to cut funding for social programs while investing more in the country's military.

The group of young people recently concluded the Young Activist Leaders Program, which teaches social justice and community organizing.

Nico Jaggar, youth organizer for the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, is one of the youth leaders of the program. He said in the wake of the Trump Administration's pledging $1 trillion to the military, the group decided to wrap up the program's spring session by organizing a rally.

"We don't want our money going to war," Jaggar explained. "We'd rather our money go to food stamps, social security, health care. Those are the things that actually save and improve lives versus war is this machine that just destroys."

The rally featured youth speakers as well as community leaders for fair housing and immigrant rights. The program is an 8- to 10-week paid internship run by the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane. It will have another session in the fall.

Many issues sparked Jaggar to get involved in organizing and he said access to health care and insurance for low-income people hit close to home.

"I've watched my community, my family be affected by lack of medical care," Jaggar pointed out. "It's an awful thing to just have to accept that you can't get help."

Jaggar added as a young person, especially below voting age, it can be easy to feel powerless. But he emphasized young people are paying attention and deserve the opportunity to have a say in their own future.

"You can do that through organizing, like our YALP program," Jaggar noted. "Or volunteering, or just taking a stance and saying, 'Hey, this isn't right.'"

Along with helping youth feel empowered, Jaggar stressed, learning community organizing skills is fun. He added the program's fall session will focus on voter engagement.