Blog Post 7: First Overnight Reflection
My group (Ella, Liz, Bernice, and I) definitely feels more comfortable around each other, and I feel more connected to them now than I did at the kickoff, or even yesterday morning. We talked about what we each did in and out of school, our families, and how our personal connections to the foster care system influenced us to choose this topic for our project. Our conversations gradually loosened as we let our guards down and started joking around with each other.
Before this weekend, my plans for this project were unclear. I wasn’t sure how I wanted to narrow my focus, so I ended up with multiple topics and no known direction. By talking about the blanket topic of foster care in-depth with my group and listening to their opinions, we were able to take an overwhelming project idea and turn it into one or two specific paths of research. We want to create a project that helps break the stigma surrounding foster children. I hope to be able to do this through asking questions like how children end up in the foster care system, how family history affects them, and whether or not any stereotypes associated with foster children keep families from helping.
I am ready to begin enacting my team’s Story Chasing Plan. We’ve assigned each member a few veins of research, as well as created deadlines for each piece of research. We scheduled weekly check-ins when all four of us are free (on Wednesdays at 4:00). I think we’re in a good place to begin researching and finding the characters for our story.
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We often glean so much when we share our ideas with others. I have a friend who is a foster parent to multiple children. She is also an early childhood educator. Both she and you would have to remain anonymous I could pass on a couple question you may have and ask for her response. I’m not sure if this would be helpful or not. There is also the Springfield Area Parent Child Center. Maybe you could volunteer there or get in touch with them and get a sense of their work (I believe they often advocate for children in foster care).
It sounds like your work is coming together. I look forward to hearing about your work to “break the stigma surrounding foster children.”
Hi Robin,
I think it would be a tremendous help if you could pass on some questions from the group to your friend. We understand that not everyone will be comfortable talking about this subject, and we want to respect and protect the privacy of anyone who is uncomfortable. However, we would be grateful if you and she would consider helping us gain perspective on foster care. Would it be alright if I got in touch with you as soon as my group has a few questions for her?
I also appreciate your suggestion about the Springfield Area Parent Child Center. Although I live too far away to volunteer, it might be a good idea for me to give them a call.
Thank you for your help!
Yes! If you can provide me with a couple of questions I will get her answers for you.
Hi,
I have a short list of questions that I would love for your friend to answer, but please let her know that if she prefers not to answer one for any reason, I completely understand.
“What inspired you to become a foster parent?
How old are the children you’ve fostered? Had they been in any previous homes before staying with you?
What was your experience bonding with your foster children?
In your experience as an educator, have you taught a child in the foster system? If you have, have you noticed any differences in behavior between a child in the system and a child that is not?”
Thank you so much!