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November 6, 2008

Dollinger heading to Washington, D.C.

Mary Meaux

Ryan Dollinger is preparing to take a monumental step in the fight for foster care reform.

Dollinger, a former foster child, is the Texas Chapter Officer of Foster Care Alumni of America. He is one of 17 individuals and only two from the state of Texas who will embark on a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C. While there, Dollinger and other attendees will either participate in public speaking or writer’s workshops under the tutorship of public policy leaders, experienced advocates and gifted teachers from Washington, D.C. during the 2008 FCAA Alumni Leadership Institute.

The FCAA Alumni Leadership Institute was launched to enhance the written and oral communications of our members to better enable FCAA to successfully share our priorities and objectives.

“Our goal,” FCAA Executive Director Nathan Monell said, “is to equip our members with the tools they need to effectively express themselves, whether in writing or verbally, when they are representing FCAA nationally, regionally, or in their local neighborhoods.”

Following the two days of training, the group will visit offices of members of congress to share priorities and expertise about the need for child welfare reform.

“In addition, our Alumni Leadership Institute will continue to grow over the next several years, building our national community of alumni ready to take meaningful and effective action to influence foster care practice and policy for the next generations,” Dollinger said.

Dollinger said he lives and breathes foster care and as a former foster child he feels he is in the position to a give first hand perspective of his experiences.

“It’s worth it, he said. “Someone needs to speak up on the behalf of these children.”

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