|
Hosted by Jennifer Whitney, Forgotten Youth is a local half-hour documentary about California children who have aged out of the state foster care system. Many of these forgotten young people end up filling California's penitentiaries or living homeless on the streets. This documentary explores the dynamics of this high-risk population talking with San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno and the state's foster youth ombudsman Karen Grace-Kaho about this growing crisis. Sacramento licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Eric Reininga (Sac) talks about the importance of family and the result of children in foster care being bounced from one home to another. The program examines the stories of a myriad of young adults both successful and tragic. It looks at a mentorship program that is offering a vital helping hand to children and teens in need.
 Individuals profiled in this documentary include a young man who grew up in the Children's Receiving Home, his adoptive mother who is playing a key role in the local foster care mentoring organization Wonder Inc., a street family of teens who have come together to create a support system and their own sense of belonging, a soon to be college graduate and new mother who lived in 15 foster homes, and a local women who is making a difference by mentoring a child in the foster care system.
"ViewFinder: Forgotten Youth" is a local companion program to "Aging Out" a documentary that chronicles the daunting obstacles that three foster care "veterans" encounter when they are discharged. As they become parents, or battle drug addiction, or face homelessness, or even end up in jail, one constant remains - a resiliency developed during their years in the system that drives them to take control of their lives. "Aging Out" air Wednesday, June 1, 8:00pm - 9:30pm on KVIE Public Television's channel 6.
Major support for "ViewFinder," a weekly local series produced by KVIE Public Television, has been provided by Allied Insurance. This episode of "ViewFinder: Forgotten Youth" is funded by Sierra Health Foundation with additional support from Safe Credit Union.
 Click here to purchase a DVD of this program
Sacramento Bee Article on ViewFinder: Forgotten Youth
Assemblyman Mark Leno
San Francisco Lawmaker
(916) 319-2013
California Youth Connection (Foster Youth Advocates)
800-397-8236
California Youth Crisis Line
24-Hour Crisis Line: 800- 843-5200
Business Office: 916-340-0505
Child Protective Services
Foster Care Volunteers
916-876-7285
Families First (Foster Care Facility)
877-488-5437
Foster Care Help-Line
(State of California)
877-846-1602
Foster Youth Job Opportunities (Ages 16 - 24)
State of California
Independent Living Program (ILP) for Emancipated Youth
916-874-9526
Job Corps
800-733-JOBS
Koinonia (Foster Care Facility)
(916) 652-2741
Sierra Health Foundation
916-922-4755
Stanford Home for Children (Foster Care Facility)
916-344-0199
WIND (Homeless Youth Program)
916-561-2424
Wonder, Inc. (Volunteer mentoring)
916-231-3027
|
