OSOFOMAAME

??”Osofomaame had a blast connecting with community and sharing more about resources and our mission to uplift and empower Black foster youth and families at the Justice 4 All Juneteenth Festival.” . . . #WeAreTheVillage #BlackFosterYouthMatter #JuneTeenth #JusticeForAll

The Indian Child Welfare Act (#ICWA) promotes the many #benefits of keeping children connected to their #culture, including a sense of belonging, positive identity development, and overall #wellbeing. Learn more during #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth. https://buff.ly/47xV78K

Family Resource Centers exist around the country and routinely help kinship families. Many of those Centers have supports tailored to kin. If you work at an FRC, learn why kinship matters to you and how other FRCs work to help support kin! https://lnkd.in/em6Gp38t #KinshipCare #Grandfamilies

Support #youth in #fostercare in speaking up about their needs, questions, and #goals during permanency planning. This publication from Child Welfare Information Gateway provides tangible #strategies that can help get youth engaged. It's also available in Spanish! #NationalAdoptionMonth ENG: https://buff.ly/49pOrcl SPA: https://buff.ly/3PzQvqY

??November Book of The Month???? ?? “Cool Cuts” by @mechalreneeroe is a celebration of Black boyhood. Uplifting the joyful memories of hair and nostalgic childhood for readers.” - BeAnka -BeAnka Masefiade . . . #WeAreTheVillage #BlackFosterYouthMatter #ReadMoreBlackBooks

??November is National Adoption Month?? ??According to LifeLong Adoptions, 23% of adoptive parents in the US are Black. ??Kinship Adoption is common within Black families. They often adopt within the family, such as when grandparents, aunts, or uncles take in their nieces and nephews. ??Currently there are over 3,000 youth awaiting adoption from foster care in Michigan, check out https://www.mare.org to learn more. . . . #WeAreTheVillage #BlackFosterYouthMatter #NationalAdoptionMonth

??Abundant Life Academy?? ??We recently finished up our first cohort of “ALA” this programming year in partnership with “Samaritas Independent Living” program. We are so proud of this amazing group of youth who were engaged and dedicated to their own personal growth. ??5-Class Series, that teaches important life skills to youth ages 15-21 impacted by foster care. . . . #WeAreTheVillage #FosterYouthMatter #AbundantLifeAcademy

??Happy Belated Birthday (Oct 30!) to our Founder and Executive Director, BeAnka M. A.K.A Auntie B?? . . . #WeAreTheVillage #CommunityAuntieB #BlackFosterFamiliesMatter

??October Book of The Month???? ?? “You Are More Than Magic”!, by @mindaharts is affirming and encourages young women to find their voice and show up as themselves unapologetically!”-BeAnka Masefiade . . . #WeAreTheVillage #BlackFosterYouthMatter #ReadMoreBlackBooks

??Our Work?? ??There are 10,000 youth in foster care in Michigan. Around 600 in Kent County. ??While 16% of children in Michigan are Black, children who are Black make up 29% of the state’s foster care population. While 31% of children in Michigan are children of color, they make up 51% of the foster care population. ??Osofomaame supports and advocates for Black youth and families in foster care/adoption through providing education, tools and resources. . . . #WeAreTheVillage #BlackFosterYouthMatter #AntiRacistChildCentered