Sunday, October 12, 2008

Empowering Youth Day at Oneida County Courthouse

Foster children prep for independence
Morrison, Angelica. Utica Observer Dispatch, Sept. 8, 2008.

About 50 area foster children who were preparing to live on their own got information about jobs and area services Monday afternoon during the Empowering Youth Day: Life After Foster Care at the Oneida County Courthouse.

The event — which took place through the efforts of Oneida County Family Court, Oneida County Department of Social Services and the Office of Court Improvement — featured workshops and vendors.

“We’re trying to encourage our foster care kids to take ownership of their own lives and to be an active participant in developing their own career goals,” said Julia Brouillette, court attorney referee.

None of the foster children could comment due to privacy concerns.

Vendors included the Oneida County Workforce Development, the Peacemaker Program Inc., Planned Parenthood, Carpenters Local 747, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 112 and the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 195.

“It’s a trade you can take with you anywhere,” said Fran Hardy, council representative for the Local 747. “The thing about carpentry is at the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

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