A Beauty Queen for Foster Kids

As a finalist in the 2000 Miss New Hampshire competition, 22-year-old Jennifer N. was asked, "What would you do when you get the crown?" She replied without hesitation, "Just what I am going to do right now: Encourage parents to get into foster care and give it a try. There are kids out there who need you."

When she was asked her second question, "What are you most thankful for?" She again replied without hesitation. "Without a doubt, my family. I didn't have a family until I was 16 and now I know what a wonderful gift that is." She had a horrific childhood and did not enter the formal foster care system until the age of 16. Her family, who adopted Jennifer at the age of 20, was a wonderful match. She still lives at home and goes to college.

In both the 1999 and 2000 pageant, Jennifer was chosen a runner-up. Both years she also won the community service title. In 2001, she's going to try for the Miss New Hampshire title one more time. "She doesn't want this crown for selfish reasons," says Casey Family Services' Barbara Drotos. "She wants the crown because she knows her message will go farther if she is Miss New Hampshire. And her message is simply that people need to try fostering because there are kids out there and they need love."

Jennifer has also been active as a foster care advocate outside the pageant. She has been on the New Hampshire Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (NHFAPA) Board of Directors for two years and she is on the DCYF Youth Advisory Board. She also created a program called "Peer Up" which involves motivational speaking to youth in the schools. She has organized and presented a panel of teens and young adults who were raised in foster care at numerous conferences statewide.

It is through her work with NHFAPA that Jennifer got to know Casey Family Services. After collaborating on several projects, Jennifer approached Casey about becoming more involved with our children and families. Already she is part of our mentoring program, where she has begun to work closely with a 16-year-old girl in care. Casey is helping her to write up the "Peer Up" program she's developed. In turn, she will do a "Peer Up" training session for foster parents and children this fall. She will also be consulting with social workers on implementing our independent living group and she will be a featured singer at the Interdivision Conference in October.

New Hampshire Division Director Ed Rennells is very excited about Casey's partnership with Jennifer. "First of all, she is a wonderful young lady who is an inspiration to our kids, families and staff. This is also a powerful example of how a state agency and a private organization can team up to do more for children and families."