“It’s okay to ask for help when you need it. We’re not superheroes. We can’t do everything and anything. People are always willing to help if you let them.”

Nineteen-year-old Jo-Mary speaks from the heart with her advice to children in care. Born in Banff, she is a member of the TsuuT’ina First Nation and was placed in care at the age of seven. She and her three brothers grew up in various foster homes.

At the age of 17, Jo-Mary moved out of foster care and transferred into independent living under a Youth Agreement. Throughout this she has always been a role model for her brothers, instilling in them the importance of education.

Jo-Mary grew up in Golden and graduated from Golden Secondary school. She’s taking a bachelor of arts at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton with a goal to become a lawyer specializing in environmental and First Nations law.

“I’m a great analyzer and fantastic at rationalizing everything. So being able to stand up for Mother Earth, which is extremely important to Indigenous cultures from all over the world, and for my people, who have gone through enough, is literally the smallest thing I can do with my abilities.”

Jo-Mary’s education is supported by the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program, which covers costs like housing, child care, tuition and health care for former youth in care while they go to school or attend a rehabilitation program. And with recent changes to the AYA program, even more former youth in care can benefit from it – nearly double.

She’s grateful for support from the AYA program.

 “It’s been so helpful, especially for those of us who don’t have family for support. I wouldn’t have been able to take a full program load of five courses without the support of AYA. I can be successful at school without the stress of worrying about rent and other expenses.”  

Jo-Mary is proud of her brothers – one is studying at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo with support from the Youth Education and Assistance Fund, which covers tuition and other expenses. Another brother is working full-time and the youngest attends high school in Golden.

Jo-Mary is also a member of the Youth Advisory Council, which provides advice to the Ministry of Children and Family Development about programs to support youth in care. The council is made up of youth who are in government care in B.C. or who were previously in care. So far it has helped launch important supports like AgedOut.com, a website built for youth in care, by youth in care. Feedback by the council’s peers encouraged them to create an accessible and informative site where former youth in care could learn about the supports and services available to help them transition to adulthood. Now the site has more than 10,000 users.

Jo-Mary was encouraged to sign up for the council by her high school social worker.

“I’ve enjoyed being part of the council, and getting to be a part of so many great things that our advice was included in. The main reason why I joined the council is that I think it’s important to let the children and youth in care be kids – they shouldn’t have to worry about being an adult, let them have fun and experience childhood.”

It’s sound advice from a young adult who grew up in care and wants to help others.

Learn More:

For more information about AYA, please visit: http://ow.ly/wRFG305yOuF

For more information about YEAF, please visit: http://ow.ly/K4mn305a2KW

To find out how you can change a child’s or youth’s life by becoming a foster parent, please visit: http://ow.ly/w7Tn305a426

If you are a young person 17-28 years old and would like to learn more about the Youth Advisory Council or become involved, please visit: http://ow.ly/JmXF300TvoW