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The Chronicle of Social Change
California Can Take Kids from Abused Moms. Why the Separation Can Harm Both
ChrisAnna Mink is a pediatric infectious diseases specialist who has written about child health issues for the California Health Report and University of Southern California's Center for Health Journalism.
With Cannabis Newly Legalized, Minnesota is Latest State to Adjust its Child Welfare Approach
Alex Perez is a Minnesota-based reporter covering child welfare. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a master’s degree in investigative journalism. He received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from North Central College.
Lost and Found
Vivian Dudley is 25 years old and, like every other foster, has grit as her middle name. She's an active member of her church and active in her community, and is very passionate about standing up for those that cannot advocate for themselves. She continues to knock down statistical barriers that other people assume about her or about how her story began. She loves going to school for a future career as a social worker. Dudley continues to push through barriers and obtain life goals, such as buying her first home in the spring. She continues to be the evidence that any foster can do whatever they put their minds to no matter what we're the odds against them, and believes that the sky is the limit for every foster youth, including herself.
Getting my Ducks in a Row
Kia Crist loves to take care of others, is a huge scary movie fan, and has an orange cat who they love very much. Crist also loves wearing black, rainy days and long nights. Crist believes they have a voice that deserves to be heard, and hopes people hear their story and challenge themselves to look within.
We Are Grieving
Elaine Allen was in foster care when they were still a child before being adopted into a family. Allen resides in Moorhead, Minnesota with their cat and will be attending Minnesota State University Moorhead. Allen is passionate about helping others through different advocacy opportunities. Allen is grateful for their friends for encouraging them to step out of their usual comfort zone, and for Foster Advocates for helping them realize their voice mattered.
Where Do Reimbursement Checks Go?
Chloe Gartner is 24 and currently resides in White Bear Lake, Minnesota with her 16-year-old cat. She entered the foster care system at age 17. After her first foster home experience, she was fortunate enough to be accepted by another foster family at the age of 18, and they remain in close contact. Since aging out, Gartner has been busy trying new things and hopes to learn more about herself and what she would like to do with her future. She is currently in school, studying business management.
My Sister is a Stranger
Erin Gantz is from Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Gantz went into foster care at 16, aged out at 18, and took part in all three years of extended foster care. Gantz took part in the 2023 Fellowship at Foster Advocates, an organization created to improve the foster care system for current and future fosters in Minnesota. In this Fellowship, Gantz fell in love with advocacy work and wants to pursue this as a career. Gantz enjoys binge-watching shows and movies, playing with their cat, and spending time in nature.
Surviving the System
Audriana Clifton is a 25-year-old former foster youth who was in the foster care system since the age of 8. Clifton was in countless counties for foster care and juvenile centers. Clifton is a mother, leader, and kind-hearted person. Clifton is currently working to be a part of the movement to improve the system to better help youth so they have a voice and can have their voices heard. Clifton's big goals include fundraising to own an apartment village for foster youth that have children. Clifton is currently in the process of enrolling into college to further their career goals of supporting the foster youth in their community.
Positive Role Models for Juvenile Justice-Impacted Youth
Sabrina Catherine Abong, 24, is a first-time mother who grew up in California’s foster care system. Today she’s a sales representative for Metro by T-mobile, one of the biggest cell phones providers in the United States. She is also a foster youth advocate who advocates for justices within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Currently, Abong is a Court Appointed Special Advocate, a National Youth in Transitional Database reviewer, a National Foster Youth Institute delegate for Shadow Day 2021, a Board Commissions Leadership Institute cohort and a first-time mother to a almost 2-year-old little boy. She is doing all of this while working a full time job. Abong earned an associate’s degree in psychology.
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Launched in 2013, The Chronicle of Social Change is an independent, nonpartisan daily news publication dedicated to covering the child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and educational issues faced by vulnerable children and families.
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