Teens Who Have Been Adopted or Are in Foster Care Gather for 2009 Pennsylvania Independent Living Youth Retreat at Pitt-Johnstown Campus

PITTSBURGH-Nearly 140 teenagers from across the state-individuals who have been placed by the courts outside their home after age 16-are meeting through Friday, July 17, for the 2009 Pennsylvania Independent Living Youth Retreat at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown campus, 450 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, Pa.

Sponsored by Pitt's School of Social Work's Child Welfare Training Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare Office of Children, Youth, and Families, the retreat is designed to help young people who have been adopted after age 16, are in foster care, or are living with relatives. Approximately 90 child welfare workers from across Pennsylvania are also in attendance.

Through group sessions and other activities, the teens and young adults will work toward charting a course for their future. They will meet in small and larger groups to set goals, hear about educational and career options, make connections with others, and arm themselves with what they will need as they transition to adulthood. Other group sessions are for staff only.

The teens will hear from motivational speaker Michael Sanders from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday in the student union building, Cambria, Room A. Thursday's events include a banquet with keynote speaker Jaiya John, psychologist, author, and founder of a human relations mission called Soul Water Rising. John himself was adopted out of foster care and has spent his life speaking to thousands of young people around the globe on human relations topics. He will present his banquet address at approximately 7 p.m.

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus is located eight miles east of downtown Johnstown. Directions are available at http://www.upj.pitt.edu/280/. For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Wendy Unger at 717-261-6225.

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7/14/09/tmw