Woman advocates for foster care from experience

Leader Telegram, by Pamela Powers, Oct 3, 2009, MENOMONIE, WI --

When former foster youth Greta Anderson, 21, testified before a congressional subcommittee in September, she finally felt like someone was listening.

"It was really empowering to be felt heard when often times in the foster system I felt my voice was lost," the UW-Stout junior said. "I wanted to encourage my 15-year-old self that everything she was going through then had a reason."

Anderson, who is planning to seek a master's degree in art therapy, spoke before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

The hearing was called by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., chairman of the subcommittee, to review the implementation of the Fostering Connection to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008.

Anderson entered the foster care system at age 15 because of a child custody dispute. She eventually returned to live with her mother just prior to her 17th birthday.
"I had 10 different placements," she said of that time period. "I had lots of educational disruptions. I didn't go to high school hardly at all my freshman year, my sophomore year was hit and miss, my junior year I was in foster care and my senior year I returned to my biological family. The state kept guardianship of me though."

In order to graduate with her class at Eau Claire Memorial High School, she had to attend summer school and attend night classes three days a week her senior year.

On Sept. 15, Anderson testified along with a panel of child welfare professionals and advocates on the Fostering Connections act. In particular, Anderson touched on the act's assistance with financial aid to allow her to continue her educational goals.

"Access to funding and services make it possible for me to concentrate on my studies and not be faced with choosing to drop out to support myself with minimum wage jobs," Anderson stated in her testimony.

The federal act opened more opportunities for grants and scholarships because Anderson can file as independent for financial aid. This is the first year she has not had to take the maximum in student loans in order to continue school.

"It takes a little of the financial burden off me," Anderson said, noting she still has a part-time job at a gas station to cover expenses.

During the summer, Anderson worked for FosterClub in Seaside, Ore. FosterClub is a national network for young people in foster care. Its mission is to improve life for young people in foster care through a national network built for youth and powered by youth. Anderson was one of 12 interns doing advocacy work this summer.

This was the third year she had applied for the highly competitive internship. About 400 applications are sent each year for the 12 positions.

She was chosen to speak to the subcommittee after she shared her foster care story with the executive director of FosterClub, Celeste Bodner.

Bodner, in a news release, applauded Rep. McDermott for appreciating the importance of the consumer voice when shaping federal child welfare policy,

In announcing the hearing, McDermott said Congress must continue to work to improve other aspects of the child welfare system and continue to improve the lives of vulnerable children.

"We are extremely proud Greta was able to represent the voice of foster youth at this hearing," Bodner stated. "Fostering Connections improves opportunities for young people like Greta to pursue their educational dreams, achieve permanence and successfully transition into adulthood."

UW-Stout applied science program director Charles Bomar said he was impressed with Anderson's willingness to be a voice for others who have been in foster care. Anderson was a student in Bomar's science, society and environment class last year.

"She is just a dynamic, well-spoken individual," he said. "She's got a voice. She was someone who lived in the foster care system. She's becoming a real citizen advocate by seeing there are problems and trying to help others."

Anderson said leading conferences with FosterClub aimed at youth empowerment and showing youth there is a great future for them was satisfying.

"To be able to tell foster youth that there are opportunities out there gives kids without a lot of hope something to hold on to," Anderson stated in her subcommittee testimony. "I've met so many of my brothers and sisters of the system who are hungry for a better future, and you are opening the door for them."

Unfortunately only about 3 percent of children in foster care go on to college, which Anderson said she hopes can be improved with the funding opened by the act.

She advocates foster care for those who need it until they are 21. Currently, Wisconsin has foster care until age 18.

The extra time helps youth learn to live on their own, Anderson said. Many times youth in foster care can't afford driver's education and have no transportation when they are out of foster care.

Longer foster care services can help youth from ending up in the court system or on public assistance later, she noted.

The U.S. has 513,000 children in foster care, including about 8,100 in Wisconsin.

More foster families are needed, especially for teens, Anderson said.

"There are some really great foster parents," she said. "We need more. You don't have to be perfect to be involved. You can make a difference in the life of a foster youth."

Powers can be reached at 715-556-9018 or pamela.powers@ecpc.com.

Original article, Leader-Telegram, retrieved on October 5, 2009

Greta entered the Wisconsin foster care system at the age of fifteen; placed in care as a result of a messy family court situation. During her time in care she grappled with being separated from her younger sister and other members of her biological family. She is currently thriving as an art education major at the University of Wisconsin- Stout. Greta can’t wait to get her master’s degree in art therapy and get a job coloring with clients all day. She is slowly becoming the kind of adult she wished for as a kid. Greta is a painter, pug-owner, political junkie, and a foster kid.
Learn more about Greta
Watch Greta's Testimony