Krysta White has been lucky enough to have a big sister to show her the ropes. She and her sister, Sedella White, were encouraged by their teachers and their foster parents to follow their dreams in the 10 years since they entered the foster care system.
Not all foster kids, though, have that kind of support.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services’ transitional services program is meant to fill in for families that are absent from the lives of so many foster children who, for whatever reason, aren’t in permanent placements as teens.
Now as president of the Arkansas Youth Advisory Board, made up of remarkable foster youths recommended by caseworkers, court appointed special advocates or guardians ad litem (legal representatives/advisers), White and other board member help develop policies for the transitional program, offer peer-to-peer support for other foster youths and put together the annual Teen Leadership Conference, affectionately referred to by board members as “YAB State.”
See Wednesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for me about the board and its works.