As a teenager in Colorado’s foster care system, D’borah was told she didn’t have the credits to graduate high school.
When she aged out of the system, D’borah joined our Bridging the Gap program, which connected her to safe housing and wraparound support to help D’borah reach her education and wellness goals.
D’borah now advocates for others in the foster care system and recently joined Katie Wilberding Cross, our senior director of youth initiatives and education, and Roweena Naidoo, our vice president of policy and community initiatives, at the Colorado State Capitol to advocate for SB25-150, a bill to establish a pilot program for youth in foster care.
We invite you to read or listen to D’borah’s powerful testimony:
“Good afternoon, my name is D’borah Israel. I appreciate the opportunity to testify in favor of SB25-150. I am here today because I deeply care about improving the lives of foster youth, and this bill represents a vital step forward in that effort.
Bill SB25-150 provides a supplemental support program for foster care providers, allocating $2,000 annually. This crucial funding can be used to enhance the lives of children in care by supporting tutoring, transportation and extracurricular activities. These resources are essential in bridging the gap and giving our foster youth a fair chance to thrive academically and socially.
Additionally, the bill establishes the milestone incentives program, which awards foster students a one-time grant of $1,000 upon their high school graduation. This grant is not only a financial boost but also a powerful symbol of recognition and encouragement as these young individuals overcome challenges and pursue higher education or career opportunities.
I was a foster youth who often faced significant hurdles, especially around education with 64 placements on top of the instability of moves. I was discouraged to pursue a high school diploma. My caseworker stated I needed 250 credits to graduate, which was nearly impossible. If I had more support around specialized services for my needs, I would have pursued a first-generation diploma instead of the alternative route, a trade school with only two options – nursing or maintenance – and getting a “hand-me-down GED.”
Luckily, I am now in college pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with support of the FosterEd grant, so not a total a statistic, yet I empathize with many of my fellow foster youth who are.
For educational purposes I’d like to read a quote from a former foster youth: “Every child is one caring adult away from being a success story.” – Josh Shipp
My goal, along with that of many in our community, is to improve the conditions and long-term outcomes for foster youth. By providing essential care, we are taking concrete steps toward ensuring that every young person in foster care can realize their full potential.
I remain steadfast in my commitment to positive change that helps pave a brighter future for our foster youth. Thank you for listening to my story. I urge you to vote yes for SB25-150.”
D’borah, Katie and Roweena’s testimonies are a part of our advocacy work, which addresses the systems that create barriers for historically marginalized groups. Advocacy is one way we’re working to ensure all Coloradans have access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive. Learn more about our advocacy efforts and how you can get involved.
Update: The bill successfully passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a 6-3 vote on Feb. 20 and is currently with the Senate Appropriations Committee.
