An Assessment of Resources to Support Transitioning Youth
November 23, 2010
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Special Feature Highlight – From Foster Care to Millionaire – Rhonda Sciortino
February 23, 2010
From Foster Care to Millionaire:
Abandoned at just six months of age, raised by a mentally ill man and an alcoholic woman in what can only be described as a bizarre, emotional roller coaster of an upbringing, Rhonda Sciortino used coping skills to survive the unique challenges of her childhood. She put these same survival skills to use to start her own business and make other investments, which grew to become a multimillion-dollar balance sheet. More important than the financial success are the good relationships and other elements of true prosperity that she has achieved along the way. Rhonda learned that prosperity comes in many forms … it’s not just the money we put in the bank every month, but what we achieve in our personal lives.
In her inspiring book, From Foster Care To Millionaire, she tells of some of the “crazy-making” events of her childhood, how she went from poverty, filth, hunger and loneliness to affluence, order, fulfillment, and relationships and more importantly, how you can use the obstacles in your life as stepping stones to a great future!
Rhonda’s Mission:
“Encourage people living with abuse or other disadvantages to know that someone like them made it out of the abuse and they can too.”
“Show that we all create our own outcomes—good or bad— with the choices we make.”
“Help people intentionally create a great life by teaching them what works, including helping them identify and refine or get rid of the coping mechanisms used to deal with past dysfunction that damage good relationships.”
“To show that there are lots of ways to have a great life other than what kids typically categorize as success, like being a professional athlete, actor, musician, celebrity of some sort, professional poker player, or some other unlikely career.”
“Raise awareness in the general public that all people who have been abused do not turn out to be criminals, child abusers, or dysfunctional in relationships. In fact, former foster kids and other survivors of abuse are everywhere. We are business owners, attorneys, physicians, contractors, judges, escrow officers, insurance brokers, executives, and in every other line of work you can think of. We are co-workers and neighbors, and could wind up marrying into your family! I’m hoping that readers who have been hurt by a person who came from a dysfunctional family will come away with a better understanding of why that person hurt them, and perhaps more importantly, that the person who caused the hurt can change. Radical, dramatic, life altering personality change can, and does, happen. I’m proof of it.”
About the Author:
Rhonda is the Founder of Child Welfare Insurance Services, which is the only insurance organization in the US dedicated to protecting child welfare organizations and helping prevent injuries and deaths of youth in foster care. Rhonda hopes to implement a program of work ethic, character building, and money management for disadvantaged youth. She knows firsthand that an earned paycheck will help develop dignity and self-esteem like nothing else will. Rhonda and her husband live near their daughter and her family in Southern California. In January of 2009, Rhonda joined forces with Markel Insurance to continue to enhance her 25 year history of helping people who help children. For more information on Child Welfare Insurance Services, visit www.Markelinsurance.com. For more information about Rhonda, visit www.rhondasciortino.com.
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Special Feature Highlight – The Purple Project
October 31, 2009
About the Purple Project
The Purple Project (sm) is a program of Cummings Watts & Associates, LLC and is the brainchild of former foster care alum LaTasha C.Watts; who herself “aged out” of the foster care system, without being adopted. As a child and a young adult LaTasha remembered what it felt like to not have a strong network of people that were just like herself, as well as the lack of resources and support she faced after “aging out” of the foster care system. She created The Purple Project (sm) to provide an online and offline support network, for current youth in foster care and foster care alumni – including those who have “aged out” of the foster care system or were adopted. The Purple Project (sm) is a place to connect, share experiences, talents and to find various community support resource and information, all in one place. “Being in the system does not mean that you are alone!”
Mission
To create an online and offline support and resource network for current youth in foster care and foster care alumni – including those who have “aged out” of the foster care system or were adopted.
About the Creator
My name is LaTasha C. Watts and it has been approximately 17 years, since I have “aged out” of the foster care system. My Life is much different now, I have truimphed over adversity. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the importance of making a difference in someone’s life. That difference came for me, with the creation of The Purple Project (sm), which is a support network that I designed to help change the negative outcomes that many of us face after being a part of the foster care system.“Being in the system does not mean that you are alone!” For more information regarding, LaTasha’s story and The Purple Project (sm) please visit www.thepurpleproject.com or email lcwatts@thepurpleproject.com.
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