
Foster Coalition Projects, Press & Achievements
Work done by Leah Burdick, Founder
2018 PROGRAMS
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Public Relations
Pitched Margaret Coyne of Advokids to Time magazine for article about child trauma and the border separations.
2017 PROGRAMS

Outreach Campaigns
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Protect California Children (ProtectCAChildren.org) campaign with Advokids. English and Spanish awareness campaign using PR, social media and email outreach to educate mandated reporters & the general public about additional legal tools that allow anyone to raise a child's safety concerns to the juvenile court.

Organizations Supported
(via PR, marketing consulting)
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Advokids
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Hack Foster Care Silicon Valley & Los Angeles
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Starfish Foster Care & Adoption Ministry

Awareness through Journalism
2017 articles written by Leah Burdick
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2016 PROGRAMS

Outreach Campaigns
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Foster Parent Recruiting Program Outreach -- email/direct mail outreach to foster care program leaders and all heads of the Departments of Child Services across 50 states to promote proven foster parent recruitment programs to address the nationwide shortage. (in progress)
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Secured spokeswoman role for MelissaRoshan Potter for Children's Rights #FosterTruth campaign and DoingGood.works life-readiness training & jobs for foster youth program
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T-Shirts for Foster Youth campaign for DoingGood.works's National Foster Care Month campaign
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PR lead for for MelRo Potter's "prom mom" story. Featured on ABC, Today, Cosmopolitan, People and Huffington Post among many others.

Awareness through Journalism
Foster Coalition founder Leah Burdick is also a blogger for the Chronicle of Social Change. She spotlights organizations and best practices that are changing the status quo for foster youth. 2016 articles published:
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Foster Youth Program Helps Companies Meet Social Responsibility Goals
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Film Teaches Students, Foreign Governments about Complexities of Foster Care
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How Foster Care is a Social & Political Issue
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How to Get Your City Council Involved in National Foster Care or Adoption Month
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Celebrity #FosterCare Campaign Leveraged As Fundraiser to Restart Foster Share House Renovation
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Former Foster Youth Determined to Change Outcomes for Others
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9-Year Old Girl Struggling with Foster Care Gets Surprise Valentine’s Day Gifts, Cards from Hundreds Across the U.S.

Organizations Supported
(via PR, marketing consulting)
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MelissaRoshan (MelRo) Potter
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One Simple Wish
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Doing Good Works

Other Projects
Creation and launch of MelRosvoice.com for management client MelissaRoshan Potter

Awards
Leah Burdick was named an Angels in Adoption honoree by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI).
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2015 PROGRAMS


Public Policy - California AJR 17
Leah sponsored California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 17 (AJR 17), which was introduced by Asm Patty Lopez in May 2015. AJR 17 urged the President and the U.S. Congress to enact Senate Bill 664 (the Foster Care Tax Credit Act) to provide tax relief to parents fostering children for six months or less to help cover the actual costs of caring for the child. Leah testified to the Committee on Human Services in Sacramento in June 2015. In September 2015, AJR 17 passed both Houses and was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Awareness through Journalism
Foster Coalition founder Leah Burdick is also a blogger for the Chronicle of Social Change. She spotlights organizations and best practices that are changing the status quo for foster youth. 2015 articles published:
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“Life in Limbo” Gains Popularity in Foster Parent Recruitment: http://bit.ly/1PCcn0V
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Detectives on the Case for Older Foster Children: http://bit.ly/1GZ6Ui0
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Outreach Is Key On New Medicaid Guarantees for Aged-Out Foster Youth: http://bit.ly/1K0HDOD
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Advice from a Café Founder on Meaningful Job Training after Foster Care: http://bit.ly/1RApzkP
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One-Legged Parakeet Gives Abused Children Lesson in Hope: http://bit.ly/1Y0zUL8
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Organization Creates ‘Extended Family’ For Former Foster Youth Success: http://bit.ly/1ji1tjy
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New Foster Care Case Worker Program Improves Retention Rates: http://bit.ly/1P7iidG
Organizations Supported
(via PR, marketing consulting)
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CHOICES Inc. Ohio,
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National Adoption Center
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NUBS
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Fostering Change for Children
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One Simple Wish
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Texas Foster Youth Justice Project
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Unity Burbank (Foster Ministry)
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Fostering Great Ideas
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Covered til 26 (Children Now)
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Doing Good Works
Public Relations Pitching & Resulting Articles
Here are stories pitched by The Foster Coalition that have resulted in articles and also press releases we've distributed on behalf of organizations:
Adopting Through Foster Care: a Less Expensive Alternative
This adoption route has pros and cons, but it carries virtually no out-of-pocket costs. Story pitched by the Foster Coalition.
By Susan Johnson, US News & World Report. February 24, 2015.
Laptop Gift Puts Homeless Youth on Track to Graduate
Press release written and distributed on behalf of One Simple Wish. May 28, 2015.
Program helps fulfill the wishes of foster children
Good Morning Austin (KXAN-NBC) featues One Simple Wish and the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project & how they teamed up to fulfill a much needed wish by a foster youth. Story pitched by The Foster Coalition. June 3, 2015.
One Simple Wish Enables 7 Dayton-Area Foster Children to Attend Camp Joy
Story appeared on DaytonLocal.com on June 18, 2015. Pitched by the Foster Coalition.
Wells Fargo Donates Property, Cash to Build Trenton Home for Foster Youth
Appeared on MySocialGoodNews.com, July 9, 2015.
1450 WCTC (Radio) - The Voice of Central Jersey. July 14, 2015. Click to view on YouTube
Dayton foster care kids go to camp. CHOICES staff member finds funding for all.
Story ran in the Dayton Daily News on July 16, 2015. Click to view
