Scholarship program helps youth in foster care

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

For most people, it's a difficult scenario to imagine: graduating from high school and suddenly being without a family.

That's the reality for many youth in Larimer County who "age out" of the foster care system. They are provided with classes in independent living and perhaps a good-bye party before being whisked out into the real world, on their own.

An organization in Fort Collins, Realities for Children, is trying to smooth that transition. Realities started the Triumph Awards in 2001, a scholarship program for youth in foster care that can be used for college or other post-secondary training. The goal is to help these youth stay on their feet and move ahead with productive lives.

Elizabeth King, who received a Triumph Award in 2004, used the extra hand up to enroll in Blinn College in Bryant, Texas. Despite a difficult home life and a period of time in the foster care system, King was able to beat the odds and make something of her life. She was an honor student in high school and aspires to be a pediatrician. After receiving the Triumph Award, she said, "I am not going to dwell in the shadows of my fears forever. I am not going to let adversity triumph over me."

In August, Realities launched a campaign for an endowment fund to support the Triumph Awards.

"The endowment fund means the resources will always be there for the scholarship program," said Craig Secher, president of Realities for Children. Secher founded the private organization, funded by area businesses and individuals, in 1995 to provide support to youth in the community who have been abused or neglected and now live in foster homes. Secher is a former child protection caseworker.

The scholarship program was started in 2001. That year, a total of $1,500 was given to youth for post-secondary education and training. The awards program grew to $9,000 in 2002 and $60,000 in 2004.

"It's such an important program," Secher said of the Triumph Awards. "It empowers them to break this cycle of abuse and neglect."

Secher hopes to receive broad-based support for the awards program. "We want this to be the people's endowment," he said. "If we all do a little, we can accomplish a lot."

The goal of the endowment campaign is to raise $500,000 and to give out $50,000 in scholarships every two years. Secher hopes to leverage some of the scholarships with matching monies from local organizations. The endowment fund will be managed by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado.

Youth in foster care who would like more information about the Triumph Awards may call Secher at 484-9090 or check out the web site www.TriumphAwards.com.

The state of Colorado also has a scholarship program for youth in foster care, called the Colorado Education and Training Voucher program. However, with so many foster children in the state, it can't provide for everyone's needs, according to Angela Mead, deputy division manager of child and family services for Larimer County. To learn more about the state voucher program, visit www.statevoucher.org.