Social work, philosophy graduate takes internship on Capitol Hill
Recent University of South Carolina graduate James Williams is spending his summer on Capitol Hill advocating for changes to the system that defined his childhood. Williams was one of 15 college students from across the nation selected for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Foster Youth Internship Program, a program for young adults who have spent time in the foster care system. Williams and the CCAI hope to raise policy makers’ awareness of the needs and viewpoints of those who have experienced foster care. A native of Lancaster, S.C., Williams spent 18 years in the foster care system, moving from home to home and school to school. Less than 50 percent of children in the foster care system graduate from high school. Williams graduated from Lancaster High School in 2010, but he didn’t stop there. With 31 credit hours from AP classes under his belt, he entered USC as a sophomore and graduated with a degree in philosophy and social work in 2012. He begins studying at Florida Coastal School of Law in the fall — at the early age of 19 years.
Monique B. Mitchell, assistant social work professor and South Carolina research director for the National Youth in Transition Database, originally pointed Williams toward the Foster Youth Program. Williams says he hopes to gain professional skills, learn to work more with groups and create connections that can help him achieve goals in the future.
“Kids that are in the foster care system need to keep a goal and be very goal-oriented,” Williams said. “Living in their situation is just a phase. They have to look toward the future and keep looking towards their goals.”
Williams sees himself practicing family law or child advocacy. With the goal of bringing changes to the child welfare system, he specifically hopes to implement programs to improve financial stability, education and youth development.
“I ended up leaving care not financially aware about my situation,” Williams said in a Facebook message. “Without parents I did not have a safety net as other youth do that aren’t in foster care. I am passionate about education because school has always been my haven and I believe foster youth need to incorporate their goals with education. Youth development is major because when one leaves care they need mentors to help guide them. Sometimes I think about where I’m going to go during holidays or during vacation breaks... Sometimes I wonder if I might end up homeless. I don’t want foster youth in the future to worry about these things I worry about constantly.”