TAY: A DOCUMENTARY FILM
by
Jacqueline Elizabeth Howard
______________________________________________________________
A Professional Project Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
(BROADCAST JOURNALISM)
May 2010
Copyright 2010 Jacqueline Elizabeth Howard
ii
Dedication
I dedicate this thesis to the adolescents who will, are, or have aged out of the
Los Angeles foster care system. Deepest gratitude is extended to those who had the
courage and openness to tell their stories.
In addition, I express sincere appreciation for my supportive family, my
parents Derek Howard and Dr. Susan Mosley-Howard; and to my sister and brother,
Jessica Howard and Jonathan Howard. Without them, none of this would have come
to fruition.
And a special thanks to the woman who inspired this all, Dr. Renee Smith-
Maddox.
iii
Acknowledgements
I thank my thesis committee chair Dan Birman, and committee members Bill
Celis and Wendy B. Smith for their knowledge, encouragement and support.
Thanks also to Vikki Porter, my supervisor at the Knight Digital Media
Center, who has taught me true leadership.
iv
Table of Contents
Dedication ii
Acknowledgements iii
Abstract v
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Chapter 2: Theoretical Background 3
Chapter 3: Script 5
Chapter 4: Conclusion 31
Bibliography 34
v
Abstract
One of every four adolescents aging out of the Los Angeles foster care
system at the age of 18 will face homelessness and other obstacles. These youth face
challenges in the arenas of health, social support, and education. From the
perspective of a Los Angeles-based alumnus of the foster care system, this thesis
project explores the experience of youth aging out of care, the resources needed for
their transition, and what they must do to survive.
The documentary aims not only to tell the story from the first-person
perspective, but also to shed light on the emotional, educational, and social struggles
that confront these young people. In addition, the documentary highlights the
systemic challenges that policy advocates attempt to eradicate. A mix of story line,
policy-maker strategy, and social research data informs the viewer.
1
Chapter 1: Introduction
The youth population in the United States is comprised of more than 53
million children under the age of 18; within the state of California, 6.6 million
children are under 18 (NCES, 2009). While the vast majority of these youth live with
their families, close to 80,000 of the youth in California do not and are assigned to
foster care (Child Welfare Research Center, 2006). The more than 4,000 of
California’s foster care youth (nearly 1,500 in Los Angeles County alone) for whom
the foster care system fails to find adoptive families before they reach the age of 18,
“age out” of the system (CSSR, 2009). Those who are without the custodial care of a
family must learn to survive on their own. Foster youth who “age out” in the state of
California are immediately released from the care provided under the system and the
homes in which they were placed.
The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services is the largest
foster-care agency in the U.S., with 15,000 foster youth in its care. There are
approximately 75 transitional housing and shelter programs in L.A. County, the
newest one of which will soon be the Bay Area-based nonprofit First Place For
Youth (FPFY).
This documentary examines the plight of youth FPFY hopes to target as the
agency focuses its efforts on youth living in the Los Angeles area. These young
people tell their stories of transition, providing insight into the impact of community
and policy on their lives during the period of young adulthood. Scholarship of this
type is critical as our society struggles to reclaim its youth from the grips of the
2
deleterious effects of aging out. A theoretical framework for this project is now
presented, followed by the documentary script.
3
Chapter 2: Theoretical Background
The American Academy of Pediatrics 2000 Report presents data on children
in foster care, the importance of healthy development among children in foster care,
and appropriate assessment and intervention. California serves an estimated 80,000
foster care youth and invests millions of dollars in its foster care system. Assembly
Bill 12, a major child-welfare reform initiative, was introduced in December 2008
and is currently under consideration in the California State Senate. This new policy
proposes that the state of California be granted access to federal funding that will
support foster care youth until the age of 21 rather than the age of 18. Some of this
federal funding will go towards THP-Plus1 programs, such as First Place for Youth,
which began its efforts to move to the L.A. region during the same time period of
this project’s production (Fall 2009-Spring 2010).
Developmental theories that emphasize the importance of early attachment,
consistent care, trust and basic need-satisfaction were used to understand the general
status of these youth. More specifically, Reid and Ross (2005) point to the
importance to adolescents of having a sense of belonging, mastery, independence,
self-worth and generosity. To further ground the project lens, the concept of
childhood resilience further heightens the project focus and adds to understanding of
how youth can not only survive but, in some cases, thrive during the foster care
experience. Ungar (2008) describes resilience as the capacity of individuals to
1 Currently, THP-Plus is a state-funding source administered by counties that provides up to 24
months of housing and supportive services for foster youth up to the age of 24.
4
navigate their way to health-enhancing resources and the capacity of individuals’
physical and social ecologies to provide those resources in meaningful ways.
Navigation and negotiation are critical: if one can navigate toward resources
(positive attachments, education, etc.) and negotiate to secure those resources to
enhance everyday life, there is a better chance of surviving and thriving.
Drapeau et al. (2007) suggest that in addition to previously mentioned
factors, attributes inherent to resilience for foster care youth are the possession of
social skills, self-esteem and positive, effective family ties. Studies of foster care
youth who successfully transition to adulthood suggest that these youth are active
agents and exert control over their lives, and have characteristics such as
intelligence, flexibility, positive self-esteem and self-efficacy. Studies also suggest
that these youth are likely to have encountered a positive adult role model who may
have contributed to the development of some of their skills and attributes.
While chronicling the stories of foster care youth, these theoretical lenses will
be used to critically analyze the journey of project participants and more deeply
understand their young adult life outcomes as transition-age youth (TAY).
5
Chapter 3: Script
VIDEO AUDIO
TITLE SEQUENCE
NATSOT
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
In California, about 70,000 children are
removed from their homes per year due
to cases of abandonment, abuse or
neglect and placed in state care.
Fade Under Text
Natural Sound Full
Choir singing, “don’t worry.”
CG: Los Angeles
Establishing shot of Los Angeles city
skyline and mountains in background
Cont’d music
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
Of those youth, about 4,500 will turn
18. That is when the state has decided
its parenthood ends. These youth are
called: TAY.
Fade Under Text
Cont’d music
6
Establishing shot that zooms out of
church building.
Cont’d music
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
TAY
Pronunciation: \`tā\
Definition: transition-age youth (ages
18-24)
Fade Under Text
Cont’d music
CU of Abundant Life Christian Church
Fellowship Hall sign
Cont’d music
Snap-focus CU of Jonli Tunstall
singing in the choir
Natural Sound Under
VO NARRATOR
Tilt up to CU of Ashley Williams
reciting a poem at church
CU of woman standing in a church pew
and raising both arms while she
watches Ashley on stage
ASHLEY WILLIAMS IS A TAY
YOUTH. SHE SPENT HALF OF HER
CHILDHOOD IN FOSTER CARE,
BEFORE SHE WAS LEFT WITHOUT
A HOME AFTER AGING OUT OF
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. SHE
SPENDS TIME AT CHURCH TO
ESCAPE HER MEMORIES OF CARE.
7
SOT ASHLEY WILLIAMS
Tilt up to MS of Ashley and two other
singers in the church choir
Zoom into CU of Ashley singing
“I was 10 years old and the night before
my mother had abused my brother and I.
And my grandma had socked me in my
eye // So my teachers and the school
administrators, they knew someone was
abusing me.”
VO NARRATOR
CU of Ashley singing
Establishing shot that is a WS of
students walking on UCLA’s campus
CU of VIP Scholar’s sign next to
Jonli’s office door.
Zoom into Jonli sitting at her desk in
her office.
BUT ASHLEY’S LIFE WAS ABOUT
TO CHANGE… SHE WAS INVITED
TO PARTICIPATE IN A COLLEGE
PREP PROGRAM CALLED V-I-P
SCHOLARS. THIS IS WHERE SHE
MET THE DIRECTOR OF THE
PROGRAM AND CURRENT
MENTOR, JONLI TUNSTALL. JONLI
INVITED ASHLEY TO JOIN HER
CHURCH. SHE HELPED ASHLEY
APPLY TO UCLA FOR COLLEGE.
AND SHE FOUND ASHLEY A NEW
HOME.
8
SOT ASHLEY WILLIAMS
CG: Ashley Williams, 19
Former Foster Care Youth
“It was amazing for me to have someone
who actually cared about me. Actually
guided me through college, guided me
through my last years of high school;
just to really, like, help me out a bit.
And, you know, took me under their
wings at a young age. And, it really
showed for me when I actually got
kicked out of my foster home.”
SOT JONLI TUNSTALL
CG: Jonli Tunstall
UCLA VIP Scholars Program Director
“She was reaching a point where her
foster parent was no longer going to be
receiving money for her. Once she
turned 18, she would pretty much enter
independent living program.”
VO NARRATOR
MS of Ashley walking down sidewalk
MS of Ashley walking up stairs
MS of Ashley standing in Jonli’s office
SINCE ASHLEY’S FOSTER MOTHER
NO LONGER WANTED TO TAKE
CARE OF ASHLEY, SHE
ESSENTIALLY HAD NOWHERE TO
STAY. JONLI INVITED ASHLEY TO
LIVE WITH HER.
NATSOT
MS of Ashley speaking with Jonli in
Jonli’s office
Pan right to Jonli sitting at her desk
speaking with Ashley
Natural Sound Full
Ashley: “Aw man, I can’t come home
today until nine anyway. I’ll be home.”
Jonli: “Oh Joy.”
Laughter
Natural Sound Under
9
SOT JONLI TUNSTALL
MS of Jonli sitting at her desk speaking
with Ashley
Pan left and Zoom into CU of Ashley
speaking with Jonli in Jonli’s office
Tunstall O.C.
WS of Ashley walking down hallway
and away from the camera
“We also met with her social worker. I
could potentially receive, like, money
for taking care of Ashley. // Or, because
she aged out, we could informally do it,
which is the option that we both chose to
do. // I didn’t find out until later that
made a huge difference for her, because
a large part of what she had issues with
was people being more concerned with
the money than being more concerned
with her.”
FADE TO BLACK
ACT I
VO NARRATOR
CG: Compton
Establishing shot that is a WS of
Compton neighborhoods
MS of George riding his bike toward
the camera
MS of George riding his bike away
from the camera
GEORGE WHITE — WHO HAS ONE
MORE YEAR LEFT IN FOSTER
CARE — SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS
THAT ONE QUARTER OF FOSTER
CARE YOUTH WILL END UP
HOMELESS.
10
SOT GEORGE WHITE
CU of George’s feet pedaling his bike
MS of the back of George looking at
traffic, waiting to cross an intersection
George White O.C.
CG: George White, 17
Foster Care Youth
“So I’ve been riding my bike 1,149
miles in honor, protest and
representation of the youth who
emancipated from foster care in the state
of California last year and emancipated
into homelessness. // It’s one thing to
have me saying, you know, it’s
unacceptable. But, personally, I know
for a fact I’m not going to be a part of
that one out of four. Not to boast, brag or
anything, but I refuse to let that happen.”
VO NARRATOR
MS of George riding his bike toward
camera
CU of George sitting on his bike and
talking
Zoom out of George CU
WS George talking to other cyclists as
they ride bikes away from the camera
Establishing shot of Wilshire Blvd.
street corner outside of The Alliance for
Children’s Rights building
WS of Kenia Mendez, First Place For
Youth intern, handing out paperwork to
focus group participants
THROUGH HIS BIKE RIDE
INITIATIVE, GEORGE SAYS HE
HOPES THAT THE WORLD WILL
BECOME MORE AWARE OF WHAT
HAPPENS TO FORMER FOSTER
CARE YOUTH WHEN THEY AGE
OUT OF THE SYSTEM. OTHERS IN
LOS ANGELES HOPE TO DO THE
SAME… AND THEY ARE, THE
ABOUT 75 ORGANIZATIONS THAT
RECEIVE FUNDING FROM L.A.
COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES
TO TAY YOUTH. THIS FUNDING IS
CALLED T-H-P PLUS.
11
NATSOT
MS of Dr. Renee Smith-Maddox
standing and speaking to focus group
participants
Natural Sound Full
“I’m Renee Smith-Maddox. I’m the
regional executive director for First
Place For Youth. And many of you may
not have heard of First Place For Youth
because they’ve been doing their work
with foster care youth up north for about
twelve years.”
Natural Sound Under
VO NARRATOR
WS of Kenia handing out paper items
to youth in the focus group
WS of Dr. Renee Smith-Maddox
standing and speaking to focus group
participants
FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH HOPES
TO EXPAND TO LOS ANGELES,
JOIN THE OTHER SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND HELP PROVIDE
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND
PERMANENT HOUSING TO TAY IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
SOT SAM COBBS
Snap-focus CU of First Place For Youth
logo sign on door entrance to office
MS of two people talking in the lobby
of First Place For Youth office
Sam Cobbs O.C.
CG: Sam Cobbs
First Place For Youth CEO
“We’re expanding to Los Angeles
because, this is where the majority of the
young people who are placed in the
foster care system in the state of
California are. // It’s not that there aren’t
some great providers here. But what it is,
is that there aren’t enough great
providers here to begin to meet the need
that you need to provide services for
these young people who are transitioning
out of foster care.”
12
VO NARRATOR
MS of two youth participants sitting at
the focus group
CU of two youth participants sitting at
the focus group
MS of Zaid Gayle standing and
speaking to youth at the focus group
WITH THE HELP OF ALLIES, DR.
SMITH-MADDOX HAS BEEN
ORGANIZING A SERIES OF FOCUS
GROUPS WITH VOLUNTEER TAY
YOUTH TO SEE WHAT THE
HOUSING NEEDS ARE FOR THIS
POPULATION IN LOS ANGELES.
SOT ZAID GAYLE
Zaid Gayle O.C.
CG: Zaid Gayle
Peace4Kids Executive Director
CG: Map of Los Angeles County
“When you look at Los Angeles, it is
considered ground zero for the foster
care population. // L.A. County
represents the largest population of
youth in care in any county across the
United States.”
SOT DR. RENEE SMITH-MADDOX
Dr. Renee Smith-Maddox O.C.
CG: Dr. Renee Smith-Maddox
First Place For Youth Regional
Executive Director
WS of First Place For Youth regional
meeting
OTS shot of paperwork on the table of
the meeting
“The issue that all of us who care very
deeply about what happens with these
young people is, how many end up
homeless. // And, we have statistics that
says that it is as many as one out of
four.”
13
VO NARRATOR
Slow pan left from behind Kenia and
wrap around to MS of meeting
CG: Picture of the Social Security
Legislative Bulletin announcing The
Foster Care Independence Act of 1999
CG: Picture of former President George
Bush signing the Fostering Connections
Act Photo Courtesy: U.S. White House
THE MAIN PROGRAM THAT
CURRENTLY SUPPORTS TAY IS
THE FOSTER CARE
INDEPENDENCE ACT OF 1999.
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE
CHAFEE ACT, AFTER THE LATE
SENATOR JOHN CHAFEE. WHEN
FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE
BUSH SIGNED THE FOSTERING
CONNECTIONS ACT IN 2008, THIS
ALLOWED FOR STATES TO TAP
INTO ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
NATSOT
Video Clip of Karen Bass speaking
CG: Courtesy: California State
Assembly
Natural Sound Full
Music
Natural Sound Under
VO NARRATOR
Video Clip of Karen Bass speaking
CG: Courtesy: California State
Assembly
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER KAREN BASS HAS BEEN
AT THE FOREFRONT OF
LEGISLATING SERVICES FOR
YOUTH.
14
NATSOT
Video Clip of Karen Bass speaking
CG: Courtesy: California State
Assembly
Natural Sound Full
“We’re also here to talk about the fact
that the federal government is offering
new funding and policy initiatives that
can help California serve our foster
youth.”
Natural Sound Under
VO NARRATOR
CG: Statement Provided By: THP-Plus
Statewide Implementation Project
BUT DUE TO CALIFORNIA’S
BUDGET CRISIS FOR FISCAL YEAR
2010 TO 2011, GOVERNOR ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER PROPOSED
TO ELIMINATE T-H-P PLUS
ENTIRELY. IF THE STATE WAS
UNABLE TO SECURE MORE
FEDERAL MONEY.
SOT DR. RENEE SMITH-MADDOX
Dr. Renee Smith Maddox O.C.
“We need help. This state is in a $20
billion deficit. And every time there is a
conversation about what else can be cut,
it’s all the human services, all the social
services.”
FADE TO BLACK
15
ACT II
Establishing shot that is a MS of the
entrance to The California Endowment
building
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ANDREW
BRIDGE WAS PUT INTO FOSTER
CARE IN THE 1970S.
SOT ANDREW BRIDGE
Establishing shot of a WS of The
California Endowment building
WS of Andrew sitting at his desk in his
office
“The foster care system has changed in
some very critical ways and in other
ways it hasn’t changed much at all.”
VO NARRATOR
MS of award plaque in Andrew’s office
for the popularity of “Hope’s Boy”
CU of Andrew’s hands typing on laptop
and scrolling through paperwork on
computer.
CU of Andrew’s face looking at laptop
IN HIS BOOK “HOPE’S BOY” HE
RECALLS BEING TORN FROM HIS
SCREAMING MOTHER’S ARMS.
SHE SUFFERED FROM HAVING A
MENTAL ILLNESS. AFTER
SPENDING 11 YEARS IN THE L.A.
COUNTY FOSTER CARE SYSTEM,
BRIDGE WENT ON TO COLLEGE
AND GRADUATED FROM
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
16
WS of student sitting on hill and on
laptop on University of Southern
California’s campus
CU of back of student riding bike on
University of Southern California’s
campus
EVEN THOUGH STATISTICS SAY 70
PERCENT OF FOSTER CARE
YOUTH WANT TO ATTEND
COLLEGE, ONLY 10 PERCENT
ENROLL. FOUR PERCENT
GRADUATE.
SOT SAM COBBS
Sam Cobbs O.C.
“A lot of that is done with linking them
to the already fabulous resources that are
available at our universities, especially
in the state of California. But a lot of
times our young people don’t know
those resources are there. And once they
get there, a lot of our young people
haven’t. Because, when you’re in foster
care, you’re taught a little bit to be
invisible. You don’t make a lot of noise,
because you don’t want to be moved. So
they don’t have a history and they
haven’t learned how to advocate for
themselves.”
17
SOT ANDREW BRIDGE
Andrew Bridge O.C.
CG: Andrew Bridge
Child Welfare Initiative Director
WS of group of people standing at a bus
stop in Compton
MS of group of boys playing with a
skateboard on a street corner
MS of young man sleeping on a park
bench
WS of young man sleeping on a park
bench
MS of girl laying on the grass and
talking on her cell phone
Andrew Bridge O.C.
“Far more federal dollars have gone into
this area, far more philanthropic dollars
have gone into this area. The sad fact
though is that when you look at the
outcomes, those haven’t really matched.
// If you take a look at the level of
violence that former foster youth are
confronted with when they leave care,
26 percent are victims of violent crimes
// Boys are more likely to have engaged
in sex for pay before they’re 21. Girls,
before they’re 21, 71 percent of them
have been pregnant. // And, the number
of children that they have and then what
happens to those children?”
VO NARRATOR
CU of young man walking on a
sidewalk as cars zoom in and out of
frame
MS of group of teenagers walking
down the street
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW
SUCCESSFUL SOME PROGRAMS
ARE, THERE ARE SERVICE
PROVIDERS – SUCH AS FIRST
PLACE FOR YOUTH – THAT ARE
MINDFUL OF EVIDENCE-BASED
OUTCOMES.
18
SOT SAM COBBS
MS of Dr. Renee and Sam Cobbs
leaving an office meeting and the
camera wraps around them
Sam Cobbs O.C.
“About 92 percent of the young people
who came into First Place last year
either maintained the apartment we
placed them in or moved to another
stable living situation that they were in
control of themselves. // With youth
transitioning out of foster care, this is a
solvable issue. All we need to do is
change some policies, and move a
couple of decimal signs and some
commas over and some dollar figures,
and we can fix it.”
ACT III
VO NARRATOR
MS of the “city of Compton welcomes
you” sign
CU of the Peace4Kids office sign
WS of George riding his bike as camera
follows
AT THE ACTIVITY-BASED YOUTH
PROGRAM PEACE-FOR-KIDS,
GEORGE AND OTHER TAY HAVE
BEEN ORGANIZING ADVOCACY
EFFORTS AND ALSO USING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICIZE
GEORGE’S BIKE RIDE.
19
NATSOT
CU of Zaid’s hand picking up the
hockey puck
MS Zaid flipping the puck into the air
and camera tilt when puck hits the table
MS of George playing air hockey
Natural Sound Full
“I’m going to flip it, I’m going to flip
it.”
“Ready?”
Hockey puck hits table
“Obviously, it’s going to come over
here.”
Laughter
Natural Sound Under
SOT GEORGE WHITE
George White O.C.
CG: Official Manuscript of Assembly
Bill No. 12
CU of George’s face while he plays air
hockey
Pan to MS of Zaid playing air hockey
“What we’ve been working on most
recently is getting new legislation that
was passed. // It’s called Assembly Bill
12 and, essentially, among other things,
it will increase federal support in federal
funding for foster care to age 21.”
20
VO NARRATOR
CU of Michelle Marshall sitting in the
Peace4Kids meeting
CG: Picture of Michelle Marshall in the
“All I Did Was Turn 18” campaign clip
Photo Courtesy: Peace4Kids
BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY THE
YOUTH AT PEACE-FOR-KIDS HAVE
BEEN DOING, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAS CHANGED
THE WAY THIS BILL – WHICH
EXTENDS FOSTER CARE SERVICES
TO 21 -- WILL BE INTERPRETED.
NATSOT
MS of Zaid speaking at youth during a
Peace4Kids meeting
WS of the meeting
Pan to CU of Michelle Tattini speaking
CG: Michelle Tattini
Peace4Kids Program Director
Natural Sound Full
“So, how do we educate the public?”
“In your own way, you all have said that
you’re better off having been in foster
care.”
“Yes!”
“You know? So, people think that you’re
against the system. But you’re really not,
you just want to reform the system.”
Natural Sound Under
SOT ZAID GAYLE
Zoom out of two-shot of Michelle and
Michael Marshall smiling and giggling
in a Peace4Kids meeting
Zaid Gayle, O.C.
“In developing the youth voices and
telling the youth stories, // I want people
to fully understand how incredible our
kids are.”
21
VO NARRATOR
MS of George and Manual White
sitting and listening during a
Peace4Kids meeting
Zoom out of Zaid speaking at a
Peace4Kids meeting
MOST OF THE ADVOCACY THAT
THE YOUTH AT PEACE-FOR-KIDS
HAVE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN
ATTRACTING A LOT OF PRESS
ATTENTION. ALONG WITH ONE
JOURNALIST IN PARTICULAR.
SOT GEORGE WHITE
CG: Montage of Heimpel’s Headlines
George White O.C.
“There’ve been a couple of stories, in
Newsweek, LA Weekly // Both written by
a guy by the name of Daniel Heimpel.”
SOT DANIEL HEIMPEL
MS of Daniel Heimpel walking towards
camera and then away from camera
Daniel Heimpel O.C.
CG: Daniel Heimpel
Fostering Media Connections
Program Director & Journalist
Pan of WS of youth at Peace4Kids
meeting
Daniel Heimpel O.C.
“I think that this issue is at the core of
the problems with our country. // And if
we get down to caring for our children,
and do that right, we can scale that up,
and that’s very hopeful. // There will
always be kids in the system // but if
there’s kids like George already, in a
system that’s ailing, imagine if we had
90 percent of foster kids being George’s.
Or 25 percent. Instead of the homeless
rate, make it the George rate. // Then
you know we’d be in a magical place in
this world, in this society, a magical
place.”
ACT IV
22
VO NARRATOR
Establishing WS of UCLA campus sign
on Hilgard Ave.
MS of Ashley and two other students
looking at a poster of Martin Luther
King, Jr. in the program office
MS of student standing and watching
Ashley put the poster on the wall
WS of Ashley putting the poster on the
wall that zooms into a MS
CU of the poster
LIKE GEORGE, ASHLEY IS AN
ADVOCATE FOR FORMER FOSTER
CARE YOUTH. AT U-C-L-A SHE
HELPED FOUND THE BRUIN
GUARDIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM.
AN ON-CAMPUS GROUP THAT
NEGOTIATED WITH THE HOUSING
OFFICE TO ALLOW FORMER
FOSTER CARE YOUTH TO STAY IN
DORM RESIDENCIES YEAR-ROUND.
NATSOT
MS of Ashley talking on her cell phone
while walking on campus
CG: On Phone
UCLA Housing
Natural Sound Full
“Ashley Williams, so my e-mail is, a…”
Natural Sound Under
23
VO NARRATOR
WS of Ashley walking into the UCLA
Housing office building
WS of Ashley standing at the front desk
of the UCLA Housing office
WITHOUT THIS OPTION, MANY OF
THE FORMER FOSTER CARE
YOUTH ON CAMPUS WOULD BE
HOMELESS DURING THE SUMMER
SEMESTER WHEN SCHOOL LETS
OUT.
SOT ASHLEY WILLIAMS
Ashley Williams O.C.
“It cost $500 to stay in the dorms here at
UCLA. And so what we did was, I
talked to the vice chancellor, and they
were able to cover students who wanted
to stay over.”
NATSOT
CU of the front desk at the UCLA
Housing office
Natural Sound Full
“Thank you so much.”
“Uh Huh, You have a good day.”
Natural Sound Under
24
ACT V
VO NARRATOR
WS of Dr. Smith-Maddox walking into
frame and replacing the paper on the
white board at a focus group session
CG: First Place For Youth
Focus Group
BUT MANY SERVICE PROVIDERS,
LIKE FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH,
ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE FOR
TAY WHO AREN’T IN FOUR-YEAR
UNIVERSITIES.
SOT DR. RENEE SMITH-MADDOX
Dr. Renee Smith Maddox O.C.
“So, in order to customize our
programmatic model, we wanted to hear
from young people, in 2010, what are
their needs?”
VO NARRATOR
WS of the focus group session
CU of Shamone Scott listening to the
focus group introductions
ONE OF THE FOCUS GROUP
PARTICIPANTS, SHAMONE SCOTT,
GREW UP IN A FOSTER CARE
PLACEMENT WHERE SHE LIVED
WITH A FAMILY ACQUAINTANCE
INSTEAD OF A STRANGER.
25
NATSOT SHAMONE SCOTT
CG: Shamone M. Scott
Former Foster Care Youth
Pan of MS of the youth participating in
the focus group
CU of Shamone Scott talking
MS of youth flipping her hair over her
shoulder while listening to Shamone
Pan to another youth listening
Natural Sound Full
“I was in guardianship since I was two.
But it was non-relative. So, they said,
‘oh then you should be fine.’ Like,
‘someone cares about you.’ Obviously
not if they’re still kicking me out at 18,
right?!”
Natural Sound Under
VO NARRATOR
MS of Dr. Smith-Maddox and Zaid
Gayle listening to Shamone and
nodding their heads
THERE ARE LIMITED RESOURCES
FOR TAY WHO ARE IN THESE
PLACEMENTS OFTEN CALLED
KIN-GAPS. BUT SHAMONE SAYS
THE NEED IS STILL THERE.
NATSOT SHAMONE SCOTT
CU of Shamone talking
Natural Sound Full
“How are you going to deny a youth? I
mean, think about it, how are you going
to deny a youth who was in foster care?
It doesn’t matter, I was never adopted. I
was the only child in my home not
adopted, how the fuck do you think that
made me feel?”
Natural Sound Under
26
VO NARRATOR
CU of Jessica Chandler talking
MS of focus group participants turning
around in chairs to listen to Jessica
CU of focus group participant listening
to Jessica
WHILE IN FOSTER CARE, JESSICA
CHANDLER SPENT MOST OF HER
CHILDHOOD IN THE JUVENILE
JUSTICE SYSTEM. NOW JESSICA
WANTS TO BE A MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKER.
NATSOT JESSICA CHANDLER
CG: Jessica Chandler, 21
Former Foster Care Youth
Pan of focus group participants
MS of Jessica sitting with her baby in
her lap and talking to the focus group
Natural Sound Full
“Like, my pain and stuff is pushing me
forward, because, I, I’ve been suicidal
for as far as I can remember. Like, at 18,
I got pregnant, I said, ‘I’m going to live
for this child.’ And it’s kind of sick that
I’m living for him because I don’t care
about me. I don’t have anything else
pushing me besides these things that I’ve
created. // At the end of the day, what
I’m really trying to vocalize and let
people understand is that in order to
reach us, you need to come into our
circle and, really be doing, find people
who care.”
27
NATSOT JENNY SERRANO
CG: Jenny Serrano
L.A. County Chief Executive Office
& Former Foster Care Youth
Pan from MS of focus group
participants to CU of Jenny talking
Zoom out to MS of Jenny talking
“First message that I think has to come
out is, I see you. And I hear what you’re
saying. And you’re not alone. Out of all
the things that you’re feeling, I’ve sat
there and had those same exact feelings.
I had them last week, believe it or not.
And I’m an old lady now. I’m 33 years
old. I’ve been grappling with the same
things that everybody at this table has
grappled with. As a young mom, trying
to go to school, being homeless, coming
out of care, not having a family, not
knowing if I could go home, and help
my mom when I watched my mom die
too. You’re not alone. Everything that
you guys are saying, we can pick up //
and you’re 100 percent right in the fact
that it’s a different time, because we’re
actually saying, I’m saying we, coming
from the county, we need you to inform
the work that we’re doing.”
NATSOT VINCENT D’AVERSO
CG: Vincent D’Averso
The Alliance for Children’s Rights
Mentoring Program Director
CU of Vincent talking to the focus
group
WS of Vincent talking and the focus
group participants sitting and listening
“I think that this is the beginning for
some of these youth to realize that, you
know, they’re going to have to be
advocates in other ways. So, let’s just try
to roll with this. Maybe meet again in
two weeks? If everybody’s cool with
that?”
Natural Sound Under
FADE TO BLACK
28
EPILOGUE
SOT DR. RENEE SMITH- MADDOX
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
First Place For Youth continues to
analyze data collected from focus
groups and plans to launch services in
July 2010.
Fade Under Text
Dr. Renee Smith Maddox O.C.
“It will be powerful to see that as a result
of all of the good work // that all of the
services providers have done, have
caused us to think about what it is to be
civil, what it is to be a community, and
how we can really be a caring
community that connects with each other
and helps raise our young people to
solve the very difficult problems that we
have in this world.”
SOT GEORGE WHITE
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
George cycled through his 1,149th mile
on March 27, 2010. He graduates high
school that summer.
Fade Under Text
CU of George spinning wheel on his
bike
George White O.C.
“My goal for when I age out, I’m
moving to New York. And I wouldn’t
say that I’m nervous at all, because I’m
kind of a front runner in knowing what’s
supposed to happen and knowing what
I’m supposed to get when I leave. I can
kind of make sure that I’m taken care of.
// But yea, I’m moving to New York.
Peace, Cali. Peace.”
29
NATSOT
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
Ashley is continuing her undergraduate
studies at UCLA and frequently
receives speaking invitations
nationwide.
Fade Under Text
Natural Sound Full
Choir singing, “don’t worry.”
NATSOT
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
She says her message to foster youth is,
“don’t worry.”
Fade Under Text
Cont’d music
NATSOT
MS of choir singing
CU of Ashley singing
Cont’d music
30
CG: TITLE CARD
(10 seconds)
Fade Up Text
The California Senate rejected the
proposal to cut THP-plus funding. The
cost per youth ranges from $17,500 to
$27,000. AB12 also passed in the state
assembly and now sits with the senate.
Fade Under Text
Cont’d music
NATSOT
MS of choir members bowing as
audience applause
Audience clapping
Natural Sound Under
FADE TO BLACK
CG: ROLL CREDITS Music
FADE TO BLACK
31
Chapter 4: Conclusion
The focus of this documentary film thesis project was to highlight the plight
of foster care youth who “age out” of the foster care system. Numerous challenges
face these children as they strive to endure in the face of diminishing support. The
stories of transition-age youth and others highlight the resilience that can be seen in
these youth as they find an internal system to strength, rely on support, and
maximize the environmental circumstances around them. Both theory and empirical
research suggest that if these youth can develop a strong sense of self and nurture
affective bonds then they develop a psychological grounding to survive and possibly
thrive.
The foster care system may be able to structure itself in such a way as to
enhance this possibility by providing social, educational, and familial infrastructures
that provide the chance for skill development and relationship development to occur
in the lives of youth. Indigenous cultural context must not be forgotten. Remaining
sensitive to the cultural characteristics that make the social support relevant and
meaningful to foster youth is essential. We saw all of these dimensions at work in the
life of the youth featured in this documentary project.
Advocacy efforts of former foster care youth Ashley Williams and George
White highlight the behavioral paradigm of childhood resilience. These youth
admitted to feeling attached to community via advocacy. This example further
supported theories that suggest mentorship is critical to building attributes inherent to
resilience in foster care youth. Both Williams and White encountered positive adult
32
role models. As the informal guardian of Williams, Jonli Tunstall, VIP Scholars
program director at the University of California, Los Angeles, served as inspiration
for Williams to practice youth advocacy at UCLA. Additionally, Peace4Kids
executive director Zaid Gayle helped organize White’s bike ride initiative.
In addition to the psychosocial and relational dimensions present in the
circumstances of these foster care youth, the role of policy must be mentioned. Due
to strong advocacy efforts on behalf of foster care youth, policy changes have been
made within the California foster care system. First, the Obama administration is
changing the way Assembly Bill 12 will be interpreted. This bill proposes to extend
foster care participation and support to age 21. Second, the Fostering Independence
Act of 1999 is the first legislation designed to directly support former foster care
youth with independent living programs. And third, the Fostering Connections &
Success to Adopt Act of 2008 placed federal dollars into transitional housing
programs for former foster care youth (called "THP-Plus” in California counties).
While these legislative efforts are commendable, our society tends to cut social
service programs during economic recessions. We must make an intentional effort to
advocate for the continuation of these foster care programs. Advocates must argue to
policy makers that an investment in prevention may be more cost-effective and
socially beneficial than intervention.
The social program, First Place For Youth-Bay Area (FPFY), may be
evidence of this approach in which adults mentor youth. The organization’s
evidence-based outcomes in the Bay Area have attracted accolades from fellow
33
service providers, and this documentary showed the humility FPFY maintained when
extending its outreach into the Los Angeles landscape. Policy and programmatic
factors are equally important to the ultimate adjustment, survival and resiliency of
foster care youth.
This documentary uses the in-depth reporting techniques of interviewing,
research, on-site photography, production and post-production to share the
experiences of former foster care youth with a viewing audience. Through the focus
group held at The Alliance for Children’s Rights, the stories heard from the
participating volunteer youth, and the advocates and professionals deeply involved in
this work, this project aspired to create a shared experience between character and
audience. The ultimate intent is for the audience not only to identify with the youth,
but also to use this experience to view the world differently.
34
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