foster care youth, ending institutional care is one thing that California can do to ... to like and tag our Facebook pag
A FILM WRITTEN BY AND STARRING FOSTER CARE YOUTH.
THEIR LIVES. THEIR STORIES. THEIR VOICES.
MESSAGING KIT
CONTENTS Introduction About the campaign How to get involved Spread the word
INTRODUCTION We are incredibly excited to kickoff TakePart’s first ever foster care social action campaign for “Know How.” Hello, The television premiere of KNOW HOW is set for May 27th, and we at Participant Media could not be more excited to share this eye-opening docu-drama written by and starring young people in New York City's foster care system. The film presents dramatic stories drawn from foster care youth's own life experiences, includes tales of abuse and homelessness. Five characters' worlds intersect as they confront loss, heartbreak, adulthood and bureaucracy in this tale about transience and perseverance. Participant has planned a social action campaign around KNOW HOW to help drive a national conversation, and opportunities for change in the foster care system today. We are grateful to our partners and supporters and wanted to send you a comprehensive update on the film and opportunities to collaborate. Juan Carlos Piñeiro Escoriaza Director Social Action, Impact & Public Affairs Programming Participant Media
[email protected]
Meredith Goldberg-Morse Coordinator
Social Action, Campaigns & Participant Media
[email protected]
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN We will shine a light on foster care, and use the film as a focal point for dialogue and action.
Children have a right to grow up in a family—in fact, it is a basic developmental need. Every child needs a family who can provide hands-on parenting through love, commitment, support, and structure. However, one in 10 children in California foster care is forced to live in institutional congregate care placement. For teenagers in foster care, one in three lives in institutional care and must navigate the difficult teenage years and transition to adulthood without the parenting and guidance desperately needed.
“Know How” is a campaign to educate the public that while there are many things affecting foster care youth, ending institutional care is one thing that California can do to ensure children’s right to grow up in families, not institutions. Passing this piece of legislation will not only change California, but be the first step toward implementing similar bills across the country.
We have an opportunity to stand up for thousands of forgotten children and youths by supporting A.B. 403, which makes sure that California’s children are not unnecessarily placed in congregate care and that when children must be placed, that institutional care is an intervention that offers children the individualized treatment necessary to quickly return to families. Children who deserve families need our help.
Website: takepart.com/knowhow Facebook: facebook.com/knowhowmovie Twitter: @knowhowmovie
Hashtag: #weknowhow Primary Alliance: Youth Law Center
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Go to takepart.com/knowhow •
Sign the petition
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Tweet on behalf of the cast
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Learn more about the issue
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Share with your networks! Tweet, post, email, and comment.
Live twitter chats during Foster Care Month •
Date: Monday, 25th - Wednesday, 27th
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Time: 10am PT/1pm ET
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Hashtag: #WeKnowHow
Schedule: •
Mon - What can we do to help foster care youth? (community, mentors, advocates, parents)
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Tues - Stories from the street: real life narratives from foster care youth
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Weds - Solutions-oriented: Flaws in the foster care system and opportunities for change. (legislative focus)
Contributors: •
Know How Movie (@knowhowmovie)
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The Possibility Project (@possibilityproj)
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California Youth Connection (@CalYouthConn)
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Youth Law Center (@YouthLawCenter)
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TakePart (@takepart)
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Pivot (@pivot)
Twitter: TV Premiere Q&A •
Watch On Pivot: http://find.pivot.tv/
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Date: Wednesday, May 27th, 2015
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Time: 8pm PST // 11pm EST
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Location: Pivot
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Join the conversation at hashtag #WeKnowHow
SPREAD THE WORD We need everyone’s help in creating a national conversation. #WeKnowHow to change foster care! Twitter: Make sure to include our handle (@takepart or @knowhowmovie) and our hashtag (#weknowhow) to join the conversation. Sample posts: •
Learn about @KnowHowMovie, written by + starring young people in NYC's foster care system. Watch on @Pivot May 27th! http://bit.ly/KHpivot
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Award winning #film starring #fostercare youth premieres in theaters 5/15 and on @pivot_tv 5/27. #WeKnowHow #TV http:// bit.ly/WatchKH
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Each year 40% of aged out #fosteryouth end up homeless. #weknowhow to change #fostercare http://bit.ly/KHactnow
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Every #fostercare youth deserves a champion. An adult who will never give up. May is #fostercaremonth #weknowhow http://bit.ly/KHactnow
Other Handles to Follow: •
The Possibility Project (@possibilityproj)
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Youth Law Center (@YouthLawCenter)
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California Youth Connection (@calyouthconn)
Facebook: Make sure to like and tag our Facebook page (facebook.com/knowhowmovie) on posts so we can track them. •
Know How was written by and stars a cast of youth in the NYC foster care system. Their stories and voices are eye-opening. These young people are now asking us to join them to change our foster care system together. http://bit.ly/KHactnow
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Why make “Know How,” a film by young people in foster care? Because the system doesn’t work and the human cost of its dysfunction is one few are aware of. Consider this: a few years after aging out of foster care, only 50% of young people will complete high school or a GED, 60% will be convicted of a crime, 75% will receive public assistance, and only 6% will complete a college degree. A system producing these results needs to change and we can stand up to fix it.
http://bit.ly/KHactnow
Sample Language for Newsletters, Blog Posts, etc.: “Know How,” an award-winning film written by and starring young people in New York City's foster care system, presents dramatic stories drawn from foster care youth's own life experiences, including tales of abuse and homelessness. Five characters' worlds intersect as they confront loss, heartbreak, adulthood and bureaucracy in this tale about transience and perseverance. Launched in commemoration of National Foster Care Month the campaign aims to support state-level legislation in California to provide better outcomes for foster care youth by ending the use of group homes and supporting foster parents. Children have a right to grow up in a family—in fact, it is a basic developmental need. Every child needs a family who can provide hands-on parenting through love, commitment, support, and structure. The campaign kicks off in May for foster care month with a screening at the Capitol in Sacramento where lawmakers and foster care youth will discuss their hopes for change in the system. It continues with the film’s theatrical premiere on May 15th in New York and Los Angeles. Daily twitter chats at 1pm ET / 10am PT from May 25-27th will ramp up to its television premiere on Pivot, May 27th at 11pm ET / 8pm PT. The filmmakers will be hosting a live chat throughout and after the film. The hashtag for all activities is #WeKnowHow. Go to http://bit.ly/KHactnow to find out how to get involved, learn more about the issues, and for ways to take action.
SPREAD THE WORD The meme below is optimized for Facebook, but can be shared anywhere.
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SPREAD THE WORD The meme below is optimized for Twitter, but can be shared anywhere.
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