Preparation for life after foster care event an overwhelming success

**Pictured above: Dr. Richard Barth, Dean of the University of Maryland School of Social Work (Photo credit: Keith Moore, BeMore Photography)

(Baltimore, Md.) – On Saturday, February 28th, 2015 Maryland Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association held its first Foster Youth Summit at the University Of Maryland School Of Social Work in Baltimore. More than 30 youth attended the one-day event, which was geared toward preparing older foster youth (ages 14-21) for life after foster care

“We were thrilled with the number of youth who attended, as well as the high level of energy and enthusiasm,” said Ed Kilcullen, State Director of Maryland CASA Association.

Youth attendees were encouraged to attend with their assigned CASA volunteers, their social workers, or attorneys to aid them in processing the information they received and to help further ease their transition toward independent living.

“The youth summit was very enjoyable for me and my CASA youth to attend,” said Janet Mengel, a CASA volunteer for CASA Lower Shore (Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties) since April of 2008. “Everyone was really engaged and the workshops were very comprehensive and relevant for both the youths and adults… I certainly look forward to attending next year!”

In the state of Maryland, more than half of children in foster care are over the age of 14, and 27 percent are over the age of 17. Without family to rely on, these young people are at a higher risk of homelessness, joblessness, illness, incarceration, welfare dependency, early childbearing, and sexual and physical victimization.

“We often provide information to youth – and to the adults who care for them – in vacuums, with little opportunity for them to share what they have learned with one another,” said Kilcullen. “The summit was designed for the youth and adults to hear the same information at the same time so they will be better prepared to put it into action.”

“This was a great inaugural CASA summit with a wonderful turnout of youth, CASAs, resource professionals, and UM SSW volunteers,” said Richard Barth, PhD, MSW, Dean of the University Of Maryland School Of Social Work. “I hope this will become an annual event and that the School of Social Work will continue to have this partnership and opportunity.”

Attendees began the day with a keynote address from Mr. Rob Levit, an acclaimed musician and artist who has created an award-winning innovative “Life Skills Through The Arts” programs for hundreds of at-risk youth and adults. They then broke out into individual workshop sessions where they were presented with information about the various resources available to them including educational, housing, and career options.

In addition to the inspirational and captivating keynote address and workshops, youth were presented with additional information and resources from various companies, agencies and non-profit organizations represented in the Exhibit Hall, including: BB&T Bank, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., Priority Partners, Amerigroup Community Care, FreeState Legal Project, Inc., B’More for Healthy Babies, Hearts & Homes, New Pathways, and the Department of Human Resources.

Response to the summit was overwhelmingly positive so plans will soon be underway for the 2016 summit.

Additional Information

Maryland CASA Association is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ensuring the rights of all children to safe, permanent homes. This mission is carried out in partnership with fifteen local CASA programs throughout the state, which recruit, train and supervise volunteers appointed by the court to serve as advocates for children under court protection due to abuse and neglect. Currently, CASA serves children in 20 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions. For more information, please visit

www.marylandcasa.org.

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