We want to thank you! Read on about the impact of your support.
Our hearts are full this Valentine’s season because of your loyal support of NMFFC. It truly is a foster CARE system – just as we help children in our community thrive, your care for us makes it possible for us to continue and grow our work. We appreciate you and we have so much love for our NMFFC family!
Read on to learn more about the impact your donation is having.
Our Board Member, Carlie Hornback, talked with T, a youth who experienced foster care and who has utilized the support offered by New Mexico Friends of Foster Children.
Carlie: I had the pleasure of sitting down with a youth who experienced the foster care system in New Mexico. I was inspired by her goals for the coming year. She is taking 16 credit hours of college coursework while finishing her last 8 classes of high school. When she graduates high school this spring she will also be able to walk with 25 college credits! We were able to discuss some of the support she received through New Mexico Friends of Foster Children (NMFFC). Specifically, we talked about Expanding Horizons, It’s Your Birthday!, and the scholarship program.
Expanding Horizons is NMFFC general support fund available to children and youth who are currently in the foster care system in New Mexico. This award program allows kids to simply be kids by providing support for things like bicycles, museum passes, camp fees, musical instruments, family trips, and so much more! NMFFC’s It’s Your Birthday! Program provides a birthday package to children and youth who are currently in the foster care system in New Mexico. Finally, NMFFC’s scholarship program is available to current of former foster youth in New Mexico. This program helps provide financial support to those furthering their education through a 4-year college, 2-year college, or trade school.
Your continued support of NMFFC is what allows our organization to help support children and youth in foster care. Thank you!
T: I’ve been able to network… I’ve been able to express myself and our community, and I’ve been able to speak out about our struggles…. I hope [you] keep supporting me.
Carlie: What is the biggest challenge that foster youth face with their education?
T: “I always say the biggest barrier for us in 1) receiving education and 2) continuing our education into college is stability. Stability within our work groups, in our environment, and in the services that
we need in order to thrive.
It’s really hard to get our basic needs met…. We’re not always able to pick up where we left off.”
Carlie: What goals are you working to achieve this year?
T: “I moved into my own apartment…. I’m starting to work towards building credit. There’s also a lot of cooking work that I need to do! I’m trying to establish my independence and be an adult. I’m working towards buying my first vehicle…. I want to become an EMT.”
Carlie: What support have you received from NMFFC?
T: I’ve struggled with [a health issue.] NMFFC helped me to get exercise equipment and get
[healthier].
I also received a birthday gift, which was a great way to turn 18. I spent it at home, I didn’t really have family to go to, but I did get a nice little package. It was really something that I enjoyed, and it was really special.
I attended a conference in California, and NMFFC helped pay for part of my trip. … I offered some input on what it’s like being a foster kid. I’m very actively involved in things like that, I try to work on networking with other foster children. I have a passion for it. I don’t really get tired of telling my story. For me, it feels like every time I tell it, I feel the impact around me. That’s enough to tell it a million times.
Carlie: How does support from NMFFC impact the way you think about your future?
T: It was really hard aging out of foster care and not having a lot of support. It’s been really comforting to know that if I need something, NMFFC will help me. If they can’t help me, they’ll find me resources….
I don’t think I’ve ever been told that they can’t help me.
Carlie: Is there anything you want to tell the NMFFC network?
T: There are a lot of kids that age out from the foster system each year in New Mexico, and even the ones that are still in care lack support…. [NMFFC] is honestly one of the very few resources that we have, and it’s very important that we try to keep our community full of people that support us.
