The Gap Between Foster Care and Adulthood is More Dire than You Think

Foster care is about family. It’s about welcoming a child, or children, into your family. 

But for children being fostered, it can many times feel more like an abandonment than a welcoming.

With more and more parents being unfit to care for children, (because of abuse, neglect, incarceration, or addiction to name a few) the demand for foster parents is far higher than the supply. Consequently, multiple kids are placed within one family that may or may not be equipped to handle the diverse backgrounds and personalities.

Foster parent burnout, foster child behavior challenges, and frequent changes in foster care placements serve as the consequences of a difficult system.

Sadly, roughly 30,000 youth are forced to exit the foster care system annually without having found a forever home, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Fostered youth graduate high school at an alarmingly low rate. By the time they come of age at 18, only 50% will have graduated with a high school diploma or GED. And on top of that, only 3% will go on to pursue a secondary education at a college or university.

Additionally, instability in the foster care system plays a pivotal role in the reason children have trouble doing well in school. Every time a child is moved from one foster family to another, 4-6 months of education is lost. Changing schools frequently sets back each child academically, not to mention the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies such traumas.

Yet, with over half of fostered youth undereducated, ill-prepared, and under-resourced, they are phased out of the program at 18 and left to their own devices.

 In Texas, that’s about 1,200 young adults each year.

Where are they to go? 

Who is there to support them? 

How do they begin their journey to success?

Bridging the gap between foster care and adulthood

Brandy Coty, Founder and Executive Director of Zoie’s Place, answered these questions. With her desire to help young adults reach self-sufficiency, she created a program that bridges the gap between foster care and adulthood.

Originally founded in Dallas, Zoie’s Place transitioned to Denton in 2018 and immediately partnered with Serve Denton to serve the young women aging out of foster care.

Even with all the programs and agencies infiltrating Denton County, there were not many housing options available specifically for young women aging out of foster care and unable to live independent lives.

But now, young women between the ages of 18 to 26 who have experienced or aged out of foster care can be empowered and equipped for a successful future through the support of Zoie’s Place.

Surprisingly, many of the children who have spent 6 or more years in the foster care system lack the basic skill sets required for independent living. 

And this is exactly where Zoie’s Place stands in.

Upon every initial referral, a skills assessment is administered to determine her specific needs. Basic questions, from how to craft a resume to how to cook proper recipes, helps guide tailored management plans specific to each young woman.

By providing shelter through transitional homes, young women are given the opportunity to either complete their high school education or pursue a secondary degree in a safe and structured environment. 

And they are able to reach their ultimate goal: independence. 

Phases, programs, and provision

After reaching the age of 18, 1 in 5 fostered young adults will instantly become homeless – only leading to a greater issue of long-term homelessness and dependence. 

With limited education and a lack of independent living know-how, young women rely heavily on the stability and teachings of organizations like Zoie’s Place.

Surprisingly, many of the children who have spent 6 or more years in the foster care system lack the basic skill sets required for independent living. 

Because of this, Zoie’s Place has set in place two phases of programs to best support these women in need.

Phase 1 consists of a leased home on the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home property and is geared toward girls who are pursuing their high school diploma or GED. Each young woman must be willing to work a minimum of 20 hours a week and deposit a portion of their earnings into savings accounts to prepare for independent living.

Phase 2 is geared toward young women who are pursuing secondary education or vocational programs, yet not fully prepared to live independently. 

In both phases, residents are responsible for attending life skills classes, topical teachings, and personalized learnings with their case managers. In addition to these housing programs, college support, mentorship, and other services are also provided to support these young adults through their transition to independence.

The hope in the midst of separation

Approximately two-thirds of children in foster care also have a sibling in foster care. Yet, sadly, many of these children will be separated from their siblings at some point. 

In fact, as many as 75 percent of foster children are placed apart from one or more of their siblings.

But even those odds couldn’t stop two sisters from reuniting … all because of Zoie’s Place.

When two sisters were separated from one another and placed in different foster care homes, their hope of being together again dropped drastically. So drastically, that they would end up being separated for 12 entire years.

In just one decision made by a third party, the trajectory of both of these young girls’ lives completely shifted. 

Yet from bed partners to pen-pals, these sisters were determined to stay in touch and continued to correspond amidst their separation.

When the oldest phased out of the foster care system, and with no forever family to rely on for support, she had no one else to turn to … except for Zoie’s Place.

She secured a place within the Phase 2 transitional housing and was provided the opportunity to pursue her college degree. A few short years later, she received word from her long lost sister who was also aging out of foster care and looking for her next step toward independence.

As many as 75 percent of foster children are placed apart from one or more of their siblings.

The younger sister was referred to Zoie’s Place and instantly started zooming through the program.

Who would have thought that two young sisters, after being separated for a dozen years, would end up back together all because of what one organization can offer?

Both, now graduates of Zoie’s Place, are thriving and contributing to their community, and have made huge strides in combating the statistics of foster care children.

Investing in foster care youth is an investment in your community

But the question remains: does the investment in fostered youth and organizations such as Zoie’s Place actually impact the greater community?

The answer is a resounding yes. 

What many people don’t consider is that it’s not just innocent foster youth who take a hit from the lack of attention and investment in them. Truthfully, the economy as a whole suffers because of the lost services and productions these young adults could be investing into the community. With their added services and contributions, the marketplace would grow and flourish …  but unfortunately, it isn’t.

In reality, the price of underinvesting in fostered youth results in $1 million in societal costs each year nationwide. 

That’s a lot of money.

That’s a lot of money that could be spent in creating a greater investment into the community as a whole.

Zoie’s Place understands this.

By creating resources, services, and programs for young adults aging out of foster care, these women are getting equipped to be fully functioning and contributing members in our community.

And one of the easiest ways for you to support Zoie’s Place is to do a donation drive for everyday household items. 

Think of items you use on a daily basis, bundle them up, and bring them to Serve Denton. Anything from dish soap to trashbags, paper towels, laundry detergent, toiletries, hand soap, and toilet paper is fair game. 

Having a consistent supply chain of these items frees the staff and volunteers up to focus on making an even greater impact in these womens’ lives, and gives you the opportunity to be a part of a lasting change.

But if donating household items isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry. There are many other ways you can help support Zoie’s Place and the life-changing work they are doing.

 Don’t push it off, for whatever you invest in today you will reap tomorrow.