Hopeful Transitions: Regional Strategy Serving Aged-Out Foster Youth
Foster youth who are transitioning out of care at age 18 often end up homeless, on the streets, facing addiction and other crises, and without the support of a stable family, usually do not launch into independence. Early funding helped them to avert crises among dozens of youth aging out of foster care by providing targeted, temporary financial support and including down payment assistance, providing initial food and furniture for these foster youths’ first home of their own and assisting with car repair so young adults in transition can continue to work. They also provide linkages to services, support in essential skills, including budgeting and financial planning, and spiritual support/prayer to aid them in their transition.
As Fostering Hope TN began executing this program, Hopeful Transitions, it became even more keenly aware of this population’s vast need for resources. It quickly entered into deeper collaborations with other organizations to ensure effective service to youth. It hopes to develop a regional strategy to better support and aid aged-out foster youth and ensure they experience “hopeful transitions.” Fostering Hope TN plans to integrate essential career resources and mentorship support with temporary financial assistance to ensure that youth can transition into independence.