By Tallahassee, FL
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-982887.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The Fostering Achievement Fellowship Program held its inaugural banquet in Tallahassee Thursday night. Tom Flanigan reports it honored eleven young adults aging out of foster care as well as the community members who are helping them get a college education.
The banquet drew 70 people to Tallahassee Community College, where the Fostering Achievement Fellows are enrolled with help from more than 60 volunteers and 40 state and local partners. 20-year-old Kay Graham was among the honorees.
"To be here, it feels like an accomplishment, cause I've always wanted to go to college. I didn't even know whether I would graduate high school on time or anything, but I'm here and I got it done."
The two-year-old program gives financial, academic and social support to youth aging out of foster care. That's why Big Bend Community Based Care teamed up with the college to pay a full-time program coordinator. Big Bend's CEO, Mike Watkins, calls FAF a model for the rest of Florida.
"I know the secretary of DCF has spoken to the Association of Community Colleges around the state. All my DCF counterparts as well as the community based care partners have also been exposed to this very unique model."
Representatives of the Department of Children and Families and Florida A&M University were also on hand with opportunities for the Fellows in the new academic year.