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Hi Guys...
Alisha & Judy your Youth Development Workers here! We are very excited to welcome you all to our first ever Digital Newsletter!! We really hope this will capture your attention and become your go to place for information about CAST and what we are up to. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. We really hope that you enjoy reading!
And remember,
ACHIEVE SUCCESS, BE YOUR BEST-EST!
xo Judy & Alisha :)
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Ottawa's # 1 Hit music Station
The New Hot 899
Hey guys, Judy here one of your Youth development workers. I just wanted to tell you all about our Awesome trip! On January 25th, CAST was invited to the new Hot 89.9! We were given some goodies, a tour, and got to meet the hilarious morning hot tub crew! The best part, however, was when four youth got the opportunity to promote the Foster/Adopt a Snow Angel Day through an ad that was played on the radio station. We talked about life in care and what our foster or adopted parents have done for us and what they mean to us. It was a great experience to broadcast our opinions on the radio station and be the voices for over 3,200 youths in care. |
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Star Power!!
Lisa Sibalis has been my worker for about 8years but has known me for about 9.5! Whenever needed, she is always willing to lend a helping hand. Lisa Sibalis is funny, caring, kind, self-less, reliable and tentative to my situation. I'm happy to say that Lisa has always been there to help soothe the pain and anger that my biological mother has left me with. As my longest and strongest supporter, Lisa has been able to push me beyond the boundaries that I set up to protect myself from harm, from failure or from other people letting me down. She believes in me and she knows that I'll beat any barriers that are thrown at me. She encourages me to be a better person and to open my eyes to the things around me. I thank her for everything she has done for me. Lisa Sibalis has gone beyond her duties, as a social worker, to help me pave my way. She has influenced me to finally believe that: every person has a past, and you can either let that past limit you or use that past to create the dream you. In my lifetime, I have never had a person that I could say was stable, trustworthy and who truly cared for my well-being until Lisa Sibalis. Lisa, I thank you for believing in me. I thank you for pushing my boundaries. I thank you for all your help over the years. I thank you for seeing my problems and not seeing me as a problem.
Lisa Sibalis, I am proud to call you my social worker.
With much love and respect, Alisha.
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P.I.P Tip
(Preparation for Independant Living program)
Hey teens, would you like a tip that will prepare you in finding accommodations when you plan to live on your own?
Ask yourself:
* Where do I want to live? (Somewhere close to your work, school, shopping and transportation.)
* How much does it cost to live on your own? Think of a budget that help you stay balanced.
* How do you find a place?
Look through the classified section of a newspaper, this is a good way to begin the search. Another way would be to search Kijiji.com or usedottawa.com.
Any questions? Don't hesitate to contact the CAST TEAM at cast.planning.team@gmail.com. =)
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Foster/Adopt A Snow Angel Day!
A Day of Advocacy and Fun
February 15th, 2010 was The Children's Aid Society 3rd Annual Foster/Adopt A Snow Angel Day and I'm proud to say that CAST (Children's aid Society Teens) participated in the event which was held at Parliament Hill. As a group, CAST helped to make snow angels for the over 3,200 youths in Care with no place to call home. We also assisted in various aspects of the event including sharing stories and speaking to the media in order to give a voice to youth in care. This year, we had another great turn-out which included MP's, Senators, and various media outlets.To everyone who showed up, thank you so much. Your help was greatly appreciated. Looking forward to another year of making angels in the snow and hope to see new and old faces! Because of this events success, CAS was able to recruit 12 potential families in the first week!
PS: click here to see Maggie's interview with CTV!
and here for an article about Karissa, she did an amazing job sharing her story in french!
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Youth Submissions
</3 Mom...a title undeserved.
...mom...you we're never there,
you never cared.
...mom...don't tell me you loved us,
you broke our trust.
...mom...harm is not love.
to nurture is love.
...mom...why didn't you love us enough?
where'd your mind go wrong
you hurt me, us.
...mom...we're over you.
accept the truth,
you lost us.
...mom...i'm certain for once
that we're better off.
and...mom...
the title you gained giving birth is...
...forever lost.
By Alisha
There are times I need to talk about actions & mistakes I have made, about my past, my future & the randoms of the day. [Who do I turn to?] There are times I need questions answered that I don't know. [Who do I turn to?] There are times I feel so alone, that I need someone to hold, that I need someone to look out for me every where... I go. [Who do I turn to?] These are the times I need you the most. But who you are...I don't know.
Right now, I need the one person who let me down. I need her to stop this loneliness, to protect me, make me feel safe. I need her but she hurt me 9 years ago. I thought I could do everything on my own, I wanted to prove her wrong, be everything she wasn't but its hard. I wish I could run to her when things get tough, when I need someone to talk to, when I need answers but I'm not lucky enough...not like you.
By: Alisha
Beauty
By: Rachelle Metatawabin
What defines beauty?
The number on a scale?
The coating of makeup?
The colour of the skin?
Or the purity of kindness and sincerity within'?
Is beauty looks?
Or emotions?
Can an unattractive person be beautiful?
Can an attractive person be hideous?
Why not?
Why should we be labeled and marked?
Who says they're right and we're wrong?
Let's prove that they're wrong
Let's make it right
We'll show em' true beauty
Let's stand up and fight
Judge people by talking
Know them not by their looks
Show the world we know better
Than silly magazines and books
We know the truth
Let's show some relief
Beauty isn't an image
It's a quality beneath
Rach 
MY BROTHER
We've been apart
for so long
and I still miss you
because you are gone
I understand
you are my brother
but why can't we
be with each other
It was my fault
for all the trouble
without your sister
you are no longer double
I miss you lots
and feel so bad
for what I've done
to make you mad
you are my world
you are my life
my words must feel
like a knife
the words I said
that told you that
I cannot stay
and that is that
I left at once
they took me away
without a hug
still to this day
each day without you
is like a year
each day passes
I shed more tears
Anonymous
Not My Fault
It's not my fault sometimes
i keep it all in
It's not my fault this is how life made me
Everyone's always asking for something
Everyone's always just pretending
It's not my fault you will never understand me
They programed me that way so I wouldn't feel no pain;
it's not my fault i won't settle for defeat
I came too far to settle for nothing
By Judy
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HOW CAST IS BEING ACTIVE!
From hosting a Halloween Party in October, to doing a Youthcan presentation, to visiting The New Hot 899, and participating in The CAS Foster/Adopt a Snow Angel Day at Parliament Hill, CAST has definitely been active in so many ways! That being said, CAST is not going to slack off. In fact, we have several exciting projects lined up including a Haiti fundraiser, a bike marathon (another fundraiser), and a meeting with Senator Lucien Pepin! (These will all be discussed at our next meetings so you won't want to miss it!) Way to go Team,good job everyone & let's continue advocating for Youth in Care.
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Happy 18th Birthday, Now You're On Your own!
An issue Youth in care are facing...
Normally turning 18 is no big deal. You turn 18, go out and celebrate and your parents get you something nice and tell you 'Happy Birthday'. Regretfully, this isn't how it is for most youth in care. My birthday present from the Childrens Aid Society of Ottawa is signing a piece of paper so that I can get $850 a month and pay bills. It's not joke. It's like a slap in the face telling you it's time to grow up. It makes me nervous, scared, tense, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, but also hopeful, excited, independent, mature, and free. Growing up is tough. I bet a lot of us had to grow up to quickly. Luckily, CAS is there for us. I have my good days and my bad days, you know. Sometimes I think about how great the Childrens Aid Society can be, and other times, I think of how they don't do enough for me. Fortunately, I'm pretty optimistic, as I'm sure a lot of youth in care have grown into. It's that hopeful feeling where you want or need something to go right, so instead of thinking about the things that don't happen, you take the positive outcomes and move forward. There are positive aspects to what they call the Extended Maintenance Care program. A few months ago I went to Michel Clairmont's program called Preparation for Independence also known as PIP. It was really great actually. I met knew people my age, was taught about life skills that they don't teach in high school and got free food once a week. I was taught how to maintain a good credit score, how to prepare to move out on your own, how to budget, signing and co-signing to leases, renting apartments, my rights and responsibilities as a tenant, and much much more. It may seem dull, but this is what I needed to learn. This is what youth in care need to learn. I turn 18 March 20, and life right now is stressful. I'm trying to finish my credits for high school, working to save money for university and college, figuring out how to save money for school, getting a new ECM worker, waiting to sign a piece of paper to receive $850/month, applying for bursaries and preparing to move into town in the summer. As exasperating as everything is, I keep my head up high and continue striving for my best. I still go out and hang out with my friends to de-stress and have fun. That's so important right now or else I would go insane. At the moment, I'm taking it one step at a time, getting what I know I can do done and trying not to think about worry lines. Bye for now!
Rachelle Metatawabin |
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FUN STUFF :)
One day two cows were chatting over the fence between their two fields. The first cow said, "I'm telling you, this mad cow disease is getting pretty scary! I've heard it's spreading so fast that it's already on Farmer Rubin's land just down the road!"
The second cow replied, "So what? It doesn't affect us chickens!"
A man runs to the doctor and says, "Doctor, you've got to help me. My wife thinks she's a chicken!"
The doctor asks, "How long has she had this condition?"
"Two years," says the man.
"Then why did it take you so long to come and see me?" asked the shrink.
The man shrugs his shoulders and replies, "We needed the eggs.
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C.A.S.T
(The Children's Aid Society Teens)
This newsleter is made by youth for youth! That means, all youth in care can have an opportunity to add to it with a story, Poem, comic, etc. if you would like to contribute, email/mail it to the CAST planing team and you'll see it in the next newsletter! If you have any suggestions on what should go in, email us that too. We love and look forward to seeing your awesome work!
You can contact us at:
1602 Telesat Court
Ottawa, Ontario
K1B 1B1
Phone: 613-747-7800 ext. 2082
Laurie Frainetti (our supervisor)
Phone: 613-747-7800 ext. 2061
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