Each month Fostering Futures will feature a Young Adult of the Month. This young adult will be between the ages of 17-21 and either currently in foster care or have aged out of care within the last year . We will share with you this young adult's story, plans for the future, and a list of items they are needing. Donors have the option to purchase from the list or donate monetarily.
Fostering Futures is dedicated to improving the lives of teens and young adults who are aging out of foster care. This age group is largely forgotten and overlooked in the foster care world. They are least likely to receive donations for clothing and gifts. Most have already spent several years in the foster care system, some the majority of their lives. They have likely been through many different foster placements and each move is more difficult than the last. It is often the case that these individuals experience difficulty trusting others and, hence, issues developing meaningful relationships. Aging out of foster care means that these young adults have not experienced, or have experienced very little, permanency in their lives. A large percentage of this group have suffered through trauma of various types and have these unseen, and often unhealed, wounds they are still learning to cope with. Many age out without a family or support system to help and guide them through the difficult years ahead. Suddenly managing life on their own, after years of having every aspect of their lives case managed, can be difficult to say the least. Now they are left on their own and must navigate the world when most have not learned the basic life skills to do so. Foster care was their safety net, and once they age out that safety net is gone.
At Fostering Futures, we want to provide support to these teens and young adults. Our hope is to assist in making their futures brighter and their transition out of the foster care system more manageable
Qualifications: Young adult must currently be in foster care, have a plan of APPLA, and be between 17 – 21 years of age OR have aged out of foster care within the last year. Applications can be completed by either the case manager or young adult, but case managers must submit the application to Fostering Futures (erin@fosteringfuturesmo.org).
Applications will be reviewed by the Fostering Futures Board of Directors and one will be chosen for each month.
If your young adult is chosen, then Fostering Futures will contact the young adult and case manager or foster parent(s) to put together an Amazon Wish List. In your application, please include some basic ideas of what your young adult is needing. Examples include: any household items for their dorm or apartment, computer for college, bedding, small furniture items, shoes, clothes, school supplies, ACT prep classes, supplies for extracurricular activity, etc.
Young Adult of the Month Application (docx)
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