Local Leagues Join Forces to Help Educate Foster Children

The Junior League of the Oranges & Short Hills (JLOSH) has partnered with the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc. (JLMN) to take part in an Education & Career Fair to help more than 130 youths aged 14-21 prepare for their transition from foster care to independence.  

The effective partnership between the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills (JLOSH) and the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc. has been recognized among 291 other Junior Leagues in four countries. As a result, they received the 2013 Vision Award from the Association of Junior Leagues International.  The Vision Award celebrates Leagues that are able to align their members, activities, projects and communications with their overall goals, purpose and core values, demonstrating an awareness of community needs and trends.  

The fair was a key component of the full day “Embracing Changes” Youth Conference held this year at the Rutgers University School of Law in Newark.  Foster youth gained access to important resources and opportunities through workshops, college tours, and face-to-face contact with exhibitors representing colleges, social service agencies, healthcare, law guardians, as well as businesses providing jobs and apprenticeships.  

Experts and former foster youth facilitated “life skills” workshops focused on housing, getting into college and job readiness. Representatives of Homeland Security Investigations led a session on cyber and predator safety. The day was capped off by a raffle drawing, where six lucky attendees won iPad minis, donated by the two Junior Leagues. 

According to the nonprofit Advocates for Children of New Jersey1, there were 1,275 children in out-of-home/foster care placements in Essex County in 2013, accounting for 17 percent of the 7,330 foster youth in New Jersey. Every year, more than 150 Essex County youth “age out” of the foster care system.  If these young adults aren’t aware of available resources, they are at high risk for educational deficits, economic insecurity, homelessness, early child-bearing, and other adverse outcomes. Aging out without comprehensive services negatively impacts communities.  

More than 1,000 foster youth from Essex County have attended the Education and Career Fairs. This event marks the seventh year that JLOSH and the sixth that JLMN have partnered together for this Education & Career Fair.

The successful engaging of foster youth is due to a strong collaboration between Junior League volunteers and the Child Advocacy Clinic at Rutgers School of Law-Newark, as well as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Essex County, the Superior Court of New Jersey—Family Part, the Newark Model Court Children’s Court Partners, the United Way of Essex & West Hudson, the NJ Department of Children & Families Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P), the Child Placement Review Board, and the offices of the Law Guardian.  

“On behalf of myself and the entire DCP&P staff, we say thank you for the wonderful collaboration and successful youth conference. We do make a great team," said David E. Sims, Essex Area director of DCP&P.

Every year, JLOSH members work together to tackle critical needs of women and children in our area. JLOSH provides service to East Orange, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Short Hills and Springfield.

Founded in 1913, JLOSH reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

To learn more about JLOSH, visit www.jlosh.org.