A local awareness campaign connecting Wisconsin teenagers to permanent families before they “age out” of the foster care system
Mentor 1
Dan Paulus
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
24-4-2015 10:30 AM
End Date
24-4-2015 11:45 AM
Description
As a Graphic Design student at The University of Wisconsin-River Falls I am always looking for ways to create innovative solutions to problems I see around me. Design is an important medium that is used in bringing public awareness and action to issues of concern. One issue that concerns me is the amount of teenagers “aging out” of the foster care system every year without a family to support them. There are many teenagers in need of permanent placements or some sort or mentor support before they “age out” of foster care. I believe that if more people were aware of this concern there would be more people willing to help. My objective was to create awareness of the foster care needs of teenagers in the area (county and state) and convince people to take action by becoming a foster parent or supporting foster teens in another way before they “age out.” Initially, I researched the needs of the foster care community, and was overwhelmed by the statistics. What I found was astonishing: the number of teenagers aging out of the foster care system nationally in 2012 was 23,396. These young adults needed the permanency and protection of a family as they are learning how to navigate life. What was keeping them from the help they needed? In order to best answer this question I learned about misconceptions people have about foster teens and what concerns may keep people from becoming foster parents. Now my objective was to create a series of posters that would dispel any ignorance or worries people may have surrounding this topic. The demographic I decided to target with my awareness campaign were any adults ages 30-45, who were financially stable, and educated because they would be able to provide the ideal environment for any teenager. The set of posters I designed were intended to provide clear information about what foster care was, needs in the area, and the urgency to care for those “aging out” of the system. I am continuing to modify my designs and have plans for future ones on top of communicating with a local social worker to get the posters printed and distributed in the area. It is my desire that the number of foster teenagers awaiting adoption in my area would decrease as a result of this awareness campaign and would be an example to the rest of the state and country.
A local awareness campaign connecting Wisconsin teenagers to permanent families before they “age out” of the foster care system
Union Wisconsin Room
As a Graphic Design student at The University of Wisconsin-River Falls I am always looking for ways to create innovative solutions to problems I see around me. Design is an important medium that is used in bringing public awareness and action to issues of concern. One issue that concerns me is the amount of teenagers “aging out” of the foster care system every year without a family to support them. There are many teenagers in need of permanent placements or some sort or mentor support before they “age out” of foster care. I believe that if more people were aware of this concern there would be more people willing to help. My objective was to create awareness of the foster care needs of teenagers in the area (county and state) and convince people to take action by becoming a foster parent or supporting foster teens in another way before they “age out.” Initially, I researched the needs of the foster care community, and was overwhelmed by the statistics. What I found was astonishing: the number of teenagers aging out of the foster care system nationally in 2012 was 23,396. These young adults needed the permanency and protection of a family as they are learning how to navigate life. What was keeping them from the help they needed? In order to best answer this question I learned about misconceptions people have about foster teens and what concerns may keep people from becoming foster parents. Now my objective was to create a series of posters that would dispel any ignorance or worries people may have surrounding this topic. The demographic I decided to target with my awareness campaign were any adults ages 30-45, who were financially stable, and educated because they would be able to provide the ideal environment for any teenager. The set of posters I designed were intended to provide clear information about what foster care was, needs in the area, and the urgency to care for those “aging out” of the system. I am continuing to modify my designs and have plans for future ones on top of communicating with a local social worker to get the posters printed and distributed in the area. It is my desire that the number of foster teenagers awaiting adoption in my area would decrease as a result of this awareness campaign and would be an example to the rest of the state and country.
