FOCUS on Foster Families - For Youth

What helped me most

What helped us through the hardest times

Find solutions to challenges you face by enlisting help from those around you.

What helped us through the hardest times

Maria & Annika, UCLA Guardian Scholars / former foster youth

Key Point:
Find solutions to challenges you face by enlisting help from those around you.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
What helped me most

When I first went into foster care I was petrified

When you enter a new home effective communication can help you adjust.

When I first went into foster care I was petrified

Sarah, First Star UCLA Bruin Academy Student / foster youth

Key Point:
When you enter a new home effective communication can help you adjust.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
What helped me most

Feeling good about yourself

Know that you are strong and special, ignore negative comments.

Feeling good about yourself

Maria - UCLA Guardian Scholar / Former Foster Youth

Key Point:
Know that you are strong and special, ignore negative comments.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

What are your proudest moments

Reach out to those around you for support, you might be surprised by how many people care about you.

What are your proudest moments

Maria & Annika UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholars / Former Foster Youth

Key Point:
Reach out to those around you for support, you might be surprised by how many people care about you.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

There are people who want to help but you need to reach out to them.

You are capable of great things, don’t be afraid to reach out for support when you need it!

There are people who want to help but you need to reach out to them.

Justin - UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholar / Former Foster Youth

Key Point:
You are capable of great things, don’t be afraid to reach out for support when you need it!

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

Supportive message to foster youth

You are important and you have a bright future.

Supportive message to foster youth

Taylor Dudley - Alliance for Children's Rights

Key Point:
You are important and you have a bright future.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

Dreaming is important - you can make them happen

Turn your dreams into specific goals to make them more achieveable

Dreaming is important - you can make them happen

Sarah, First Star UCLA Bruin Guardian Academy Student / foster youth

Key Point:
Turn your dreams into specific goals to make them more achieveable

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

You will have a good life

Believe in your own strengths and you can achieve any goal you set.

You will have a good life

Edwardo, First Star UCLA Bruin Guardian Academy Student / foster youth

Key Point:
Believe in your own strengths and you can achieve any goal you set.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

I believe in you

With the right strategies you can achieve anything

I believe in you

Annika, UCLA Guardian Scholar / former foster youth

Key Point:
With the right strategies you can achieve anything

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Messages of hope

If your foster home is bad

Communicate concerns you have with others who are here to help you.

If your foster home is bad

Maria UCLA Guardian Scholar/ former foster youth

Key Point:
Communicate concerns you have with others who are here to help you.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills

Talking about feelings with caregivers can be tough. Use the feelings finder game to learn some new words that can help.
Managing difficulties

Moving is very hard, I learned to take it slowly

Planning for big transitions does not have to be scary, there are strategies to help.

Moving is very hard, I learned to take it slowly

Sarah, First Star UCLA Bruin Guardian Academy Student / foster youth

Key Point:
Planning for big transitions does not have to be scary, there are strategies to help.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Managing difficulties

Advice from a foster youth who has had difficult experiences

Identifying a support system can help you through even the roughest times.

Advice from a foster youth who has had difficult experiences

Edwardo, First Star Bruin Guardian Scholar / Foster Youth

Key Point:
Identifying a support system can help you through even the roughest times.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Managing difficulties

Moving to a different area

Adjusting to a new place can be tough, Maria shares a few tips on how she managed a move to a new part of town.

Moving to a different area

Maria- UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholar / Former Foster Youth

Key Point:
Adjusting to a new place can be tough, Maria shares a few tips on how she managed a move to a new part of town.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Managing difficulties

Feeling ashamed of being a foster child

Overcome negative feelings with strategies that can help you cope.

Feeling ashamed of being a foster child

Maria, UCLA Guardian Scholar / former foster youth

Key Point:
Overcome negative feelings with strategies that can help you cope.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Managing difficulties

One day I decided to stop crying and do something about it

Find strategies that help you feel in control of your reactions to stressful situations.

One day I decided to stop crying and do something about it

Maria & Annika, Guardian Scholars / former foster youth

Key Point:
Find strategies that help you feel in control of your reactions to stressful situations.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Helpful information

Strengths I developed from being a foster youth

Learning new skills can help you build on your current strengths and achieve your goals.

Strengths I developed from being a foster youth

Maria & Annika, UCLA Guardian Scholars / former foster youth

Key Point:
Learning new skills can help you build on your current strengths and achieve your goals.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Helpful information

Legal options for older, non-adopted youth

Navigating the child welfare system can be challenging, remember to take time to relax and consider all of your options.

Legal options for older, non-adopted youth

Cynthia Billey, Esq., Alliance for Children's Rights

Key Point:
Navigating the child welfare system can be challenging, remember to take time to relax and consider all of your options.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Advice from foster youth

My story: Some very bad times with a happy ending

It can be hard to move on from challenges, you may have faced early in life, but there are strategies that can help.

My story: Some very bad times with a happy ending

Maria, UCLA Guardian Scholar / former foster youth

Key Point:
It can be hard to move on from challenges, you may have faced early in life, but there are strategies that can help.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Advice from foster youth

You have to be your own voice

Do not be afraid to speak up and ask for the support you need.

You have to be your own voice

Justin, UCLA Guardian Scholar / former foster youth

Key Point:
Do not be afraid to speak up and ask for the support you need.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Advice from foster youth

Advocate for yourself and take charge

Asking questions and communicating clearly can help you feel more in control of your situation.

Advocate for yourself and take charge

Kenny, First Star UCLA Bruin Guardian Academy Student / foster youth

Key Point:
Asking questions and communicating clearly can help you feel more in control of your situation.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Advice from foster youth

Foster care made me hateful, but hate comes at a cost

Going through difficult or challenging times in the past can have an effect on how you might act or behave today.

Foster care made me hateful, but hate comes at a cost

Annika, Guardian Scholar / fomer foster youth

Key Point:
Going through difficult or challenging times in the past can have an effect on how you might act or behave today.

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills
Advice from foster youth

Court was very intimidating but don't let that get to you

Navigating the court system can be challenging. Keep in mind that your needs and opinions are important, share them!

Court was very intimidating but don't let that get to you

Tiffany- First Star UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholar / Foster Youth

Key Point:
Navigating the court system can be challenging. Keep in mind that your needs and opinions are important, share them!

Focus Tools:
Use these worksheets to practice key FOCUS skills