Sharing Your Story WITH a purpose,FOR a purpose…

Purposeful Sharing

Workshop developed byACTION Ohio

Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now

Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now

We bring together the voices of foster care youth, alumni and allies, to create lasting change and generate hope for current and former foster youth, based on access to resources, ally support and alumni expertise.

Today’s Topics:

• History of Consumer/Social Movements

• Importance of Youth/Alumni Voice

• Risks and Benefits of Sharing Your Story

• Planning Ahead About What to Disclose, and What to Keep Private

• Avoiding Being Misrepresented or Misunderstood

Consumer & Social Movements•Civil rights movement•Women’s suffrage•Disability rights•Faith movements•GLBTQ

Where Was Your Voice?

•Design•Delivery•Evaluation

Foster Care Alumni of America’s“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project

Foster Care Movement

•Youth in Care Network (Canada)

•California Youth Connection

•Statewide youth advisory boards

•Foster Care Alumni of America

•International foster care movement

Risks of sharing our personal stories

 

Foster Care Alumni of America’s“Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project

Benefits to sharing:

 

Reclaim, reframe

Power of stories

How much of your story should you share?

Self Disclosure

Being Misrepresented or Misperceived

Double-bind: The very thing that

makes us credible…

“I am not a tragedy” Not defined by what happened to me

Talking to the media

“If It Bleeds, It Leads”

Drew Barrymore syndrome

• Judgment• Pity• Retaliation• Predators• Stereotype• Stigma

Purposeful sharing

Sharing Effectively

• What do you want to accomplish?

• What meaning did this experience have for you?

• Share Best Practices and success stories (not just horror stories)

• Tell your story from a place of strength, not blame

Be Prepared

• Do your research• Decide what you will

and won’t share• Narrow your topic • Outline the main points• Know the statistics• Practice and rehearse• Focus on: hook, closing

Be Professional

• Dress the part• Poise• Preparation• No candy• Be united• Treat others with

respect

If you feel nervous

• Before: Excitement and fear affect the body in the same way!

• After: Physiological let-down: recuperate afterwards

During the event

• Focus on what you want to achieve

• Make eye contact• Pay attention to your

breathing• Use visuals• “I would like to tell you a

story” (Tell the audience to

close their eyes)

Back-up Plan

- If your emotions show through..

- If someone asks you a question that you aren’t comfortable sharing…

Handling Q & A

• Repeat the question

• “That’s a good question”

• Generalize to the BIG picture, if too personal

• Experts in the room

What’s foster care like from

YOUR point of

view???

Choose – Connect - Claim

Source: Voices of Youth

Source: Honoring Emancipated Youth

Youth Serving Agencies Youth Led Agencies

Youth are viewed as the recipients of programs, services, tools and resources.

Youth act as developers , facilitators and evaluators of programs and services.

Youth are showcased as a “Success Story” to promote a program.

Youth act as agency representatives, and promote positive impact to community.

Youth receive pre-packaged issues and topics.

Youth have the opportunity to research multiple issues and decide on final projects

Youth do not receive formal education or training about advocacy movements and systemic change.

Youth receive strategic education and training about advocacy and its impact on larger social issues and systems.