Get to Know Ericka François

Get to Know Ericka François

Ericka François is a dynamic and versatile communications professional with an extensive background in foster care advocacy. A proud alumna of SUNY New Paltz, Ericka holds a B.A. in Journalism and Science and brings a unique perspective shaped by her experiences.

She is passionate about storytelling and driven to make an impact through her work. Ericka aspires to pursue a career path that includes social impact communications, focusing on uncovering and addressing social issues in creative ways.

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Center for the Study of Social Policy •

The Manifesto 2.0: A Tool for Families to Help their Communities Thrive

When I first read the Parent Edition of the Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership, it was hard for me to get past the phrase “Parents know what’s best for their children.” As a child growing up in foster care, I’m pretty sure my mom didn’t know what was best for me or herself at the time. But something clicked as I read the stories, experiences, and wisdom of the parents who contributed to the Manifesto. My emotions shifted from cynicism to empathy.
Wiley •

“Sendwòm Gran Sè”: The Older Sister Syndrome

Ericka Francois, an advocate for young people living in and aging out of foster care, thoughtfully shares the events that led to her and her siblings being placed in the child welfare system. Her frank account of physical abuse over her early years of life illustrates the struggles many families face. Her and her siblings' entry into the child welfare system, an intervention intended to improve well-being for her and siblings, produced varied outcomes. Ericka describes her blossoming in her grandmother's care and the pain of watching her siblings languish and even decline while in the state's care. Ericka makes a powerful appeal for immediate system changes.
ABC7 New York •

CASA NYC looks for more volunteers to help advocate for foster kids in court on Staten Island

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Children in foster care are some of New York City's most vulnerable residents, and volunteers with the organization CASA NYC are on a mission to make sure young people in the system are taken care of and their rights protected. But they can't do it all alone. Francois aged out of the New York City foster system four years ago, and she says there was one person who truly had her back."It's like an angel who came down from heaven, honestly," she said.
City Limits •

Opinion: NYC’s Foster Care Mentorship Program, Fair Futures, Saved Me. Now the City Needs to Save Fair Futures.

‘It just isn’t fair for any young person to be denied a fundamental support system in their lives. Youth in care deserve to have this very basic need met, and the city must do its part by baselining $20 million for Fair Futures in the upcoming budget.’ Growing up in foster care is hard. Making it through the pandemic while in foster care is even harder. I entered the child welfare system at age 11. Now at 23, I’ve aged out of care, but I still witness the struggles of growing up in the system...
Fair Futures •

Black Lives Matter: Statement from the Fair Futures Youth Board

While the Fair Futures Youth Advisory Board is dedicated to improving NYC's foster care youth's lives with coaches, we want to bring light to an aligned purpose - the mission of fighting for the Black lives that have been unjustly taken, whether from the hands of the police department or racism. It's important to acknowledge that multiple groups in foster care are marginalized. These groups deserve our consideration and support; however, Black foster youth are some of the most disenfranchised an...
The Teller Magazine •

Turn Your Bedroom Into a Personal Sanctuary: Important Now, More Than Ever

Growing up with my West Indian grandmother, my room technically was not my room. It was always her room. I never had any privacy until I occasionally locked the door and even that was frowned upon in her household. I would often find missing clothes and items‒ things I knew were long gone. With lost polaroids and straps from my favorite high-top Nikes turning up out of nowhere, I was furious; my space wasn’t being respected at all.
The Imprint •

The Imprint's Brian Donovan Fellow Reflects on Her Experience

I became dedicated to pursuing journalism to advocate for society’s most vulnerable citizens and bring more public scrutiny to the government’s role in their lives. As a former foster youth, I am especially interested in trauma and children. One thing that’s always bothered me is how foster youth are prescribed psychotropics at high rates at young ages — I watched it happen to my four younger siblings.
The Teller Magazine •

Dealing With Comfort in Your Hair Texture, Black Girl Edition

Expanding on Cheyenne Cochrane | TEDxBeaconStreet A Celebration of Natural Hair by Ericka Francois I learned at a young age how big of a role the texture of my hair would play in confirming my ethnicity, but also that it would play a key role in how I’m viewed by others in society. At a very young age (around 7), my Haitian mother subjected my scalp to harsh straightening chemicals that would leave me with fresh cuts and burns.
The Teller Magazine •

Communication

One of the most challenging tasks amongst individuals is proper communication. Think about how many times you’ve found yourself in conflict and didn’t know how to address the situation. Are you also a non-confrontational person? If so, your anxiety must be through the roof when something is bothering you. How about growing up in a passive-aggressive home? Learning to express yourself can be scary. Take small steps every day, rewarding yourself along the way.
CASA-NYC •

Ericka and Susan — CASA-NYC

I am 20 years old, and have been in foster care since I was removed from my mother in 2008 when I was 11 due to physical abuse from her.  I know I am more fortunate than many kids in foster care because my grandmother was able to take me in.  She loves me unconditionally and always took good care of me, and I lived with her until recently.I also feel very lucky that when I was a senior in high school, my Judge assigned CASA to help me with the process of getting into college and with getting my...
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