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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2019)
16 community/classified ads february21 2019 Foster Youth Seek Child Welfare Reform in 2019 Legislative Session Columbia County, OR Seeks: Case Aide Deadline: 3/8/2019 Corrections Deputy Deadline 5/6/2019 Corrections Technician Deadline 3/8/2019 Parole and Probation Officer I/II Deadline 3/8/2019 Chief Deputy Deadline: 02/28/2019. See website for details: www.co.columbia.or.us. EOE Cedar Ridge is currently seeking ap- plicants for part-time housekeeping and kitchen positions. The ideal can- didates will be friendly, reliable, detail oriented, and have good communica- tion skills. Applicants must have the ability to work evenings and weekends. Experience a plus, but not required. If interested, visit www.visitcedarridge. com or email ryan@visitcedarridge. com. A Trusted Name in Funeral Service Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home & Crematory 2308 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove 503-357-2161 We know tax time isn’t always enjoyable, but making a small donation can make a big difference. When you donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund on your Oregon state tax form, you help our state’s most vulnerable spe- cies through research, habitat improve- ments, and other conservation actions. Small change can make a big difference! • Conservation programs are now in place for many sensitive species includ- ing Western pond turtle, Townsend’s big-eared bat, and Willamette Valley grassland birds. • Much work is done yearly to improve habitat on private and public lands. • Bald eagles in Oregon went from 65 breeding pairs documented in 1978 to 570 in 2010 and that number continues to rise. Don’t Sell it! Pawn it! For fast cash! Baseline Pawn, Inc. 2245 Baseline St., Cornelius (Across from Fred Meyer) 503-530-8119 State Licensed PB-0388 Open everyday at 10 a.m. Vernonia Dental D HELP WANTED 741 Madison Ave., Vernonia 503-429-6611 Jeff & Kathryn Hoyt Family Owned & Operated Formerly Prickett’s Mortuary Forest Grove Memorial Chapel 503-357-3126 To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com . C r D starting at age 12 (2015), and a Foster Children’s Sibling Bill of Rights (2017). About Oregon Foster Youth Connection Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC) is a statewide, youth led advocacy group of current and former foster youth be- tween the ages of 14 and 24. Members shape every aspect of what OFYC is, how it is structured, which policies to focus on, and what activities to partici- pate in. Through peer support and adult mentorship, members have the opportu- nity to build community with other foster youth and grow as leaders by develop- ing solutions for Oregon’s foster care system. Learn more at www.ofyc.org. About Children First for Oregon Children First for Oregon (CFFO) is a statewide, nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower communities to advocate for kids so all children in Oregon thrive. Since 1991, CFFO has worked across the state to galvanize community support for children and inform decision-makers about the so- lutions kids need. CFFO convenes and engages communities through four pro- gram areas: legislative solutions, foster youth advocacy, child abuse preven- tion, and research and data. Learn more at www.cffo.org. State Taxes are for the Birds… and Other Wildlife DM CLASSIFIED ADS ter Youth Connection (OFYC) Policy Conference, where current and for- mer foster youth from across the state worked together to identify pressing is- sues within the foster care system and develop concrete solutions. Out of the 10 policy recommendations formed by foster youth, several others will be considered during the 2019 legislative session. In addition to ILP expansion, OFYC policy recommendations includ- ed in Governor Kate Brown’s proposed budget include increasing funding for CASAs, foster parent support and train- ing, a peer-led Healthy Relationships Education Program for foster youth, and housing transition support. OFYC is a program of Children First for Or- egon and celebrated 10 years of advo- cacy, activism, and leadership in 2018. Foster youth will continue to advocate for expanding ILP services during the 2019 legislative session. If passed, the bill will be OFYC’s ninth legislative concept to become law. OFYC youth leaders have successfully passed: assistance obtaining driving privileges (2009), a tuition waiver for foster youth entering community col- lege or state university (2011), a Foster Child Bill of Rights & Foster Child’s Ombudsman (2013), access to ongo- ing extracurricular activities (2015), the ability to open a saving accounts an A group of current and for- mer foster youth from across Oregon met with lawmakers on January 28 in Salem to lobby for child welfare re- form. Their priority is to expand Or- egon’s Independent Living Program (ILP), which prepares foster youth for their transition into adulthood. While living independently as an adult is a challenge for any young person, youth experiencing foster care are more likely to lack the long term relationships and resources needed to successfully complete high school, gain employ- ment, and live on their own. According to a data brief released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 71 percent of young people in Oregon aged out of foster care without being reunited or connected to a family in 2016, compared to 51 per- cent of foster youth nationwide. Many young people transitioning from foster care struggle with instability, are less likely to finish high school, have chal- lenges accessing and maintaining higher education, and face disproportionate lev- els of unemployment and homelessness. Hannah Royal is a former foster youth who utilized ILP services and is advocating for the bill. “ILP helped me get a jump start into my adult life by providing funds for me to pay rent and pay for every day expenses,” she said. “I’m advocating for expanding these services so that other current and former foster youth can benefit from them too.” Foster youth identified expand- ing ILP services as a legislative priority for 2019 due to the challenges of aging out of foster care without permanency or supportive relationships. ILP services help youth in foster care make the tran- sition to self-sufficiency as adults by providing training, classes, stipends for living expenses, and one-on-one sup- port. Youth learn about topics such as budgeting, applying for a job, and look- ing for their first apartment, while build- ing community with other young people preparing for the transition out of care. “This program did more than just help provide me with living expenses — I learned important skills that will help me for the rest of my life,” continued Royal. “Legislators should pass this bill so that foster youth who want to be teach- ers, doctors, businessmen or women, or any other profession, can do so without the obstacles of not being able to pay rent, not being able to buy groceries, or not having the skills to successfully live independently standing in their way.” The legislative concept was developed by youth at the Oregon Fos- e rm Oregon falls short in preparing all foster youth for adulthood, foster youth propose a solution s hri h o t p M er . h S c How to donate: You need to submit a “Sched- ule OR-donate” form along with your Oregon State Tax Form 40. The Non- game Wildlife Fund charity code is 19. You’ll be helping support 88 percent of our state’s wildlife that are not hunted, trapped, or fished. Thanks for your support and visit www.oregonconservationstrat- egy.com to learn more about Oregon’s strategy for protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife. Angel Memorials Headstones eu 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881 Granite Markers & Monuments 971-344-3110 Locally owned in Vernonia Serving NW Oregon All Cemeteries Accepted Order drawing at no charge online www.angelmemorialsheadstones.com