By Nia West-Bey | Executive Director
May is National Foster Care Month-and Mental Health Awareness Month. This May, we are reflecting on the work that we have been able to continue to build at DC's first Youth Peer Operated Center.
This spring has included many celebrations. We dyed eggs for a FANmily Eggstravaganza at a local park. We celebrated all of the mothers and mother figures in the FANmily with door to door delivery of a pampering gift bag. We enjoyed art classes and had our artwork displayed in the spring art show of a partner organizaztion. As the school year comes to a close, we look forward to a closing cookout to celebrate our first school year in our new center.
Our youth peer support specialists have also been busy supporting our alumni through personal challenges and triumphs. Young people who have grown up in the foster care system or experiencing mental health issues frequently face setbacks as young adults as they navigate low-wage work, an unforgiving housing market, and the responsibilities of parenthood. FAN's youth peer specialists are there with resources, encouragement, and endless patience to help our young adults bounce back. The challenges are significant, but we face them as a FANmily, comitted to seeing the best for each other.
As we kick off the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, FAN is starting to look ahead to the summer. Our 14th summer will continue to support young people ages 8-15 with activities that includes, swimming, field trips, activities, relationship building, and fun. For the first time ever, we will also offer a morning program to the children of FAN alumni ages 3-7 focused on social emotional learning, and training as Recovery Coaches for young adults-an opportunity to built skills for a career helping other young people. We are so excited about this opportunity to expand our reach and meet the needs of our young adult participants.
Thank you for your support of FAN's work this year. We look forward to sharing our next update!
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