The Social Services Administration (SSA) is hosting a Virtual Emerging Adults Summit. This virtual event is a customizable experience where foster youth between the ages of 14 to 21 can join sessions and discussions that range from creative coping skills, healthy boundaries, and sexual health and autonomy to financial literacy and healthy eating on a budget.
Click here view the Virtual Emerging Adults Summit Brochure for a full list of offered sessions.
Click here to sign-up to attend the Virtual Emerging Adults Summit!
Not Sure Where to Start? Begin here!
What is mylife?
mylife is an interactive hub of information and resources designed to assist Maryland’s youth and young adults connected to the Maryland Child Welfare system, providing them with the tools needed to achieve the life they choose.
Why should I use mylife?
This is a safe space to seek guidance, learn, and provide feedback on things that directly affect your quality of life — such as school, jobs, healthcare, relationships, and more. Here at My Life, we make it easier for you by gathering all the best tools in one place to make your transition out of foster care as smooth as possible. Need to know how to request your vital records? Want to know how to apply for college? Are you looking for housing? All these things and more can be found here on My Life!
How do I use mylife?
When navigating the site, using the navigation bar is key. Located at the top of the screen, the navigation bar is separated into sections called Resources, Initiatives, Upcoming Events, State Youth Advisory Board, and Contact Us. By clicking on any menu item in the navigation bar you are instantly directed to its section. But, the navigation bar is not just used for easy access. By clicking onto the gear in the top right corner, you can customize the layout of the website. Change the background color, theme/accent color, or the color of the My Life logo! Now let’s dive into the sections.
Resources
The resources section will probably be where you spend most of your time on the website. The resources section is where you can find information on housing, vital records, education, jobs, healthcare services in your area, and even crisis hotlines for LGBTQ+ youth and suicide prevention. Resources can be filtered by both region and category. Not sure what area of Maryland you live in? Locate the “Click Here” hyperlink underneath the region drop down tab and you will be directed to a map with a full breakdown of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. The map also displays all of the Maryland Department of Human Services’ local offices. If you are still unsure of your region, type your address into the map’s search bar and you will see the corresponding county you are located in.
Initiatives
The initiatives section in a nutshell showcases the categories Maryland’s social workers feel will help create a smooth transition for you based on previous success rates and personal experience with youth. This section is important because it tells you exactly what to expect from Maryland and what we have the capacity to assist you with. In the initiatives section, you will find useful milestone goals called the Ready by 21 benchmarks and other tools such as the Maryland Youth Transitional Plan, Youth Transitional Services, Aftercare Services and more.
Upcoming Events
The upcoming events section is for socializing. Find events in your area that interest you, such as job fairs, baseball games, and more. The upcoming events section is also an opportunity for you to catch up on any announcements regarding youth related programs such as board meetings, FAFSA application deadlines and more.
State Youth Advisory Board
The State Youth Advisory Board section is specifically there for youth engagement. This is your chance to get involved and give your feedback on what matters to you. By joining the board, you are able to collaborate with Social Services Administration and other child welfare specialists during the decision making process for challenges facing youth in foster care. Your voice matters, so don’t be shy!
Contact Us
Finally, the contact us section is to get in touch with us! Need to know who is your local Independent Living Coordinator? Not sure how to reach out to the Foster Youth Ombudsman? Get all your “need to know” information here.
Upcoming Statewide Events
