It is no coincidence that we begin with “Treatment Foster Children” as our first category. We begin at the beginning…with the center of our service and our commitment. We begin with words of wisdom from our children and with pictures of children and families. We have included them as tools to use to get started on your advocacy efforts. As you continue your advocacy efforts, you can add your own pictures and quotes to increase your briefcase. (Be sure to get the proper written permission, of course!)
Including quotes from children in your writings or speeches can be incredibly powerful. Children’s words of wisdom, of hope, of need can capture the attention of your audience. It can help outsiders understand better the challenges of being a child in foster care. The following quotes were lifted from essays written by “real” Treatment Foster Children. The FFTA Board of Directors held an essay contest, sponsored by Therapeutic Programs, Inc. Children from around the country entered essays. Feel free to use these quotes in your advocacy and recruitment efforts. They are written from the heart, and hopefully will capture the hearts of legislators or potential Treatment Foster Care parents. You can work them into your materials by saying for example: “as one TFC child said, ‘in my heart I felt alone, but in my mind I felt grown…I didn’t want to trust anyone”. This can give a snapshot of what children in care feel.
Personalize your advocacy efforts using quotes from TFC Kids
