August 2024 News
Project LIFE (Living Independently, Focusing on Empowerment) helps youth in Virginia succeed when they age out of foster care. We do that by helping youth directly and by supporting the professionals who work with them. Our free services are available to any youth ages 14-23 who has experienced the foster care system, as well as any DSS or private provider in Virginia.
Text PLIFE to 833.640.1244 to sign up to get PL news.
Calling all artists! Project LIFE needs YOU to design our next Statewide Youth Conference t – shirt! The November 2024 conference will focus on growth and development. The title of this conference is A Different World! Use your creativity to create a design that includes the conference theme and title! Submission deadline is August 31st. Send your submission in JPEG form to vaprojectlife@gmail.com. Please make sure you include your contact information. NO INAPPROPRIATE DESIGNS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please note – small changes may need to be made to your design to fit the t – shirt. We will work to keep your design as close to the original as possible!
Upcoming Statewide Events
Project LIFE hosts Casey Life Skills Assessment Changes & Transition Plan- Virtual Training
Date: August 6, 2024, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
For Professionals via Zoom
Project LIFE will be hosting virtual statewide training for LDSS offices and private providers working with older youth in foster care. Join us to learn about recent changes to the Casey Life Skills Assessment (CLSA.) As of April 11, 2022, the CLSA website stopped processing new assessments. On May 9, 2022, all youth data maintained on the Casey Life Skills Assessment website was deleted. All LDSS workers who are responsible for conducting CLSAs will need to download the new CLSA toolkit. Project LIFE will help explain the changes and will train on how to utilize the new formats of the assessment. Register using the link below. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Reach out to gmack@umfs.org with any questions.
Project LIFE hosts Youth Welfare Approach – Virtual Training
Date: August 14, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
For Professionals via Zoom
LDSS and private provider professionals in the state of VA are invited to join this Youth Welfare Approach training through Zoom. Provided by the Project LIFE team, this interactive workshop will highlight practical ways to apply the Youth Welfare Approach with youth in your care. These ways will effectively engage youth to become more actively involved in their case planning. Key concepts of this training will include shifting our lens from child welfare to youth welfare, and utilizing a good-better-best continuum in youth service provision. Register using the button below, and contact George Mack through email at gmack@umfs.org if you need more information.
Statewide VDSS Check Ins
Date: September 10, 2024, 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For Professionals, via Ring Central
These check-in calls are open to all DSS agencies to discuss independent living needs and updates with the VDSS IL team’s Letha Moore-Jones and Monica Cabell. They will start on September 10, 2024, and will run through December 10, 2024. You do not need to register for these check-ins. You can click here at the scheduled time to attend virtually, or contact George at gmack@umfs.org or at 804.239.1044 to receive the dial-in information to join by phone, or if you have any questions.
Upcoming Regional and Hybrid Events
Central Region
Date: August 28, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., continuing monthly
For Youth in-person at UMFS, RRC Building#12
Responsible Parenting Curriculum
Any Virginia youth, aged 14-23, who has experienced foster care and is a parent, or soon to be parent, to a young child is invited to attend this peer support group. This group will learn together in a safe space while relating with other peers in the same stage of parenthood. Attendees can bring their child(ren) with them to this group, and will be connected to resources, local experts, and prizes/gifts. If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact T at tmurphy@umfs.org.
Western Region
Piedmont Region
The Piedmont Region ILCC Meeting will be held virtually on September 6 at 10:00 am. This meeting is for professionals working with youth. Please contact Cierra Emory-Clegg at cemory-clegg@umfs.org for more information.
Northern Region
All Northern DSS agencies and private providers are invited to attend this ILCC to discuss independent living needs for youth transitioning out of foster care. This meeting will cover topics related to transitioning youth into adulthood and will be joined by Monica Cabell with VDSS to share statewide updates. Contact George through email at gmack@umfs.org or at 804.239.1044 if you plan on attending to get the link for this meeting, or if you need more information.
Eastern Region
