A Better Way Inc

There is a real need for Foster and Adoptive parents for teenagers in our community. #adoption https://blog.adoptuskids.org/dont-be-afraid-to-adopt-teena/

6:00 PM on Monday, Oct 18 in Oakland Special Free Screening of YR Media's award-winning documentary, Unadopted. After the screening, Noel Anaya will be in conversation with journalist Niema Jordan to discuss his journey through foster care, producing the film with YR Media, and how to support foster youth. About the Film: Of the 440,000 kids in foster care in the U.S., more than a quarter are over age 12. Adoption rates for these older kids are abysmally low. What happens whe...n you're too old to get adopted? After 20 years in foster care, Noel Anaya was never adopted. He was determined to investigate what went wrong, and finds the answers in his first documentary film. Unadopted starts with Anaya untangling his own unique story, which leads him to a wider examination that reveals the social welfare system’s silent but pervasive systemic bias against families of color, and teenagers aka older youth. While most young adults look to their parents for answers about identity and upbringing, Anaya turns to court records, social workers, and most importantly, three California teens who reveal the critical decisions they’re currently making to secure a forever family or not. About Noel: Noel Anaya is a public speaker who focuses most of his energy to create awareness for people in the community. He uses multimedia as a medium to produce quality storytelling primarily about foster care and his own life. His Story After 20 Years, Young Man Leaves Foster Care On His Own Terms, as seen on NPR, won an Edward Murrow award, a Third Coast Festival award and an NYF Radio Award. Noel plans to receive a BA in Media Communications and wishes to keep on telling stories on social topics.

Congratulations on your forever family! Did you know there are currently over 100,000 children and teens in foster care eligible for adoption and waiting for their forever home? #FosterCare #FosterLove #ThisIsFosterCare #FosterCareAdoption Elaine Newkirk | TikTok: auntes2cents

NFL defensive end John Franklin-Myers talks about his personal experiences with foster care and adoption.

A Better Way is proud to be a sponsor of the California Adoption Conference, a 2-day online event (Nov 5-6) featuring talks and workshops for adoptive and foster families, adult adoptees and foster alums, birth parents, and adoption professionals. Learn more & register at www.CaliforniaAdoptionConference.org.

Featured Employee: Kayla Briley Kayla is a Parent Partner in the PPFN (Parent Partner - Family Navigator) program, which A Better Way runs in partnership with Solano County. I work at A Better Way because I can use my experience to help others overcome the major challenges that Parents face when involved with the Child Welfare system. When you are passionate about the work, it does not feel like a job. A Better Way has a great mission statement and works hard to educate & su...pport employees. I really like being able to give back by supporting Parents during some of the most challenging times of their lives. Seeing the personal development and growth of the families I serve, while I support them with navigating the Child Welfare system is very rewarding. If you’d like to explore the possibility of joining our team, visit https://buff.ly/3mu7z27 To learn more about the Parent Partner - Family Navigator program, visit https://buff.ly/3oAHJfL

Gina Sampaio navigates the joys and trials of #adoption. https://themoth.org/stories/adventures-in-saying-yes

A small independent research study is seeking participants. https://tinyurl.com/fatherstoriesofadoption

Virtual support groups start February 9th! For fathers receiving ARS services and fathers who have come into contact with the Alameda County Child Welfare System.

Our virtual toy drive ends today! There’s still time to brighten the holidays for a Bay Area child: https://www.abetterwayinc.net/toy-drive-2020.html

Foster parents are needed now more than ever! We invite you to join us on Zoom this Monday morning, Dec 14 at 11:00am to learn about how you can become a foster parent, and to get your questions answered. More info at https://fb.me/e/1GJAONbJA

Have you thought about becoming a foster parent? Attend one of our Zoom orientations to get your questions answered! See upcoming orientation dates and times at www.abetterwayinc.net/attend-orientation.html #fostercare #adoption

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Giving Tuesday fundraiser! With your help, we will continue to empower children and families, especially during this challenging time of Covid-19. Our hearts are warmed by your generosity! If you missed Giving Tuesday you can still support our work by visiting www.abetterwayinc.net and clicking the red Donate button. #fostercare #adoption #parenting #mentalhealth

Foster parents are needed in the Bay Area now more than ever! Join us this coming Monday at 11:00am to learn about the process to become a foster parent for a child in our community.

Happy Halloween! Here’s a list of safe and socially-distanced (and in some cases virtual) events.

NEW ZOOM COURSE: "Examining and Confronting Internalized Anti-Blackness and White-Supremacy in Ourselves, Our Work, and Our Communities for Child Welfare Professionals" with Natalie Thoreson DATE: Monday, November 2, 2020 TIME: 9:15am - 4:45pm REGISTER: https://training.abetterwayinc.info/courses/1890... This day long workshop will provide attendees involved in the child welfare system with language, historical knowledge, and a safe space for guided examination of our anti-black socialization. Attendees will be supported in considering ways to unlearn anti-blackness in order to develop interdependent connection and community beyond and within the construction of race, especially in terms of working with marginalized groups within child welfare.

Foster parents are needed by children in our community! Would you like to know more about the process to become a foster parent? Join us on Zoom for our last evening orientation of 2020. Find out more about the free training and support we can provide to you. https://fb.me/e/fMfOQP3ve

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Lifeline Chat is a service of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connecting individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat. All chat centers in the Lifeline network are accredited by CONTACT USA. Lifeline Chat is available 24/7 across the U.S. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ #SuicidePreventionAwarenessMonth

Oakland: Kids 18 and under will be provided Grab and Go meals on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., including 10 meals per child on Thursdays to last the weekend. https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com//oakland-unified-provid/

A Better Way is both pleased and proud to announce the addition of Diversity Jobs www.diversityjobs.com as a new advertising and sourcing tool to our recruiting strategy and process. As a diversity minded employer we wanted to partner with Diversity Jobs based on their philosophy that true happiness comes from aligning what we do at work with who we are as people. And nothing reinforces our sense of purpose more than aligning job-seeking candidates with the best opportunitie...s available. Diversity Jobs targets a diverse group of candidates through their network of niche sites for Black Americans, Latinx, Asians, Native Americans, Veterans, People with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA + community. We are excited to be working with Diversity Jobs and look forward to candidates sourced through them that continue to add inclusion and diversity to our agency. See more

Lawrence describes how the services provided by A Better Way helped him.

Robbie Gay loves an underdog: "I know how it feels not to be loved."

Thank you to everyone who donated items to help our new house in Antioch feel like a home! This house will provide a place for youth in our Transitional Housing Program, helping them move from foster care into adulthood. We're still in need of these items (new or nearly-new condition): 1. Sofa/sectional for family room 2. Table for both rooms... 3. 2 accessory chairs/recliners 4. 1 TV/Monitor 5. Pots and pans 6. Kitchen utensils and small kitchen appliances. 7. Outdoor table & chairs other outdoor furniture 8. Towels Please email photos of items you can donate to: [email protected] Learn more about our Transitional Housing Program: www.abetterwayinc.net/transitional-housing-program.html A Better Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible. Thank you!