January Newsletter
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.
| 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. |
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| Upcoming Statewide Events |
| Youth Service Trainings Date: January 9 & 23, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: January 12 & 26, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. For Professionals, via Zoom All DSS agencies are invited to attend this youth services training provided by VDSS Youth Services Team and Project LIFE to discuss independent living services and needs for youth transitioning out of foster care. This training will cover all topics related to services provided for IL youth transitioning into adulthood. Contact George through email at gmack@umfs.org or at 804.239.1044 if you need more information. |
| Lunch & Learn Training with VDSS & Casey Family Program (Virtual) February 9, 2024 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Immigration Basics (Key Terms & Players) March 8, 2024 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Immigration 2.0 Immigration and Undocumented Children and Youth in Foster Care For Professionals, via Zoom All DSS agencies are invited to attend this youth services training provided by VDSS Youth Services Team and the Casey Family Program to discuss services for immigration and undocumented youth in care. Contact George through email at gmack@umfs.org or at 804.239.1044 if you need more information. |
| Upcoming Regional and Hybrid Events |
| Eastern Region’s Mommy Chat Support Group Date: January 25, 2024 Time: TBD For Youth in-person, Hampton DSS Project LIFE youth in the state of motherhood are invited to come out and spend time with other Moms or Moms-to-Be. Moms will learn the importance of self-care along with some simple self-care methods. If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact Melissa Lee at mlee@umfs.org.  |
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 Eastern Region’s ILCC January 17, 2024, 11:30-1:00 pm Virtual Members of the Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) are invited to meet on January 17, 2024. The meeting will provide space for state and regional updates. Please reach out to Melissa Lee (mlee@umfs.org), the IL consultant for this region, to partner and get involved. |
| Let’s Look into Our Future Join Project LIFE as we get together to create our 2024 Vision Boards! January 17, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00pm UMFS Auditorium Vision boards can include your aspirations for the year ahead and any thoughts or feelings you want to bring into your life. Whichever you choose, it’s important to include goals you can actually achieve. Describe your goals in vivid detail. Then every time you take a peek at your vision board, you’ll always be reminded of your yearly goals. By regularly looking at your vision board, you immerse yourself in a visual representation of what you want or hope to achieve. This helps create a positive and powerful image in your mind, making it easier to believe in your ability to achieve your goals. |
| Central Region’s Parenting Together Group January 24, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. For Youth in-person at UMFS CHS Auditorium, RVA 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.  |
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| Piedmont Region’s Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) December Meeting Recap The Piedmont Region was able to convene in an ILCC on December 7, 2023. The meeting provided space for many updates, including local, upcoming events with Project LIFE, and VDSS updates from Ms. Castillo. Additionally, there was a presentation from Optum’s Erica Pognon who was able to share about United Healthcare program for youth in foster care. Now that this group is back to meeting, attendees are looking to boost partnerships and membership. Please reach out to Cierra, cemory-clegg@umfs.org, the IL consultant for this region, to partner and get involved. The next meeting will be in March 2024! |
| Northern Region’s Drama/Performing Arts Workshop Date: January 20, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. For youth at in-person at Annandale UMC 6935 Columbia Pike Annandale VA 22003 Project LIFE invites you to a performing arts workshop facilitated by George Washington University drama/theater department. Supplies will be available for attendees to use during the workshop, with each participant engaging in role scenarios and learning public speaking techniques. Lunch will be provided to registered youth participants. Open to older youth in foster care ages 14 – 21 in Virginia’s foster care system. Contact George Mack through email at gmack@umfs.org with questions. |
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| Northern Region’s Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) Meeting Date: January 23, 2024 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. For Professionals, via Ring Central 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. |
| Western region ILCC meeting Date: February 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm For Professionals via Zoom After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Reach out to asteffey@umfs.org with any questions. |
| Project LIFE Contacts George Mack Project Manager & Northern Region Phone: 804.239.1044 Fax: 703.750.0621 Email: gmack@umfs.org Lacey Kangas Youth Development Coordinator Phone: 804.353.4461 x1504 Fax: 804.521.8635 Email: lkangas@umfs.org Melissa Lee Eastern Region IL Consultant Phone: 757.490.9791 x115 Fax: 757.490.8324 Email: mlee@umfs.org Cierra Emory-Clegg Piedmont Region IL Consultant Phone: 434.846.2002 x1176 Fax: 804.239.1073 Email: cemory-clegg@umfs.org Tina “T.” Murphy Central Region IL Consultant Phone: 804.353.4461 x1130 Fax: 804.355.4157 Email: tmurphy@umfs.org Amber Steffey Western Region IL Consultant Phone: 804.404.8052 Fax: 804.404.8052 Email: asteffey@umfs.org Stephanie Jones Project Specialist Phone: 804.353.4461 x1212 Fax: 804.254.9691 Email: stjones@umfs.org |
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