Growing up is a challenging journey for any young person, but the path can be even more arduous for those in foster care. Despite our nation’s value on independence, research and experience indicate that the expectation of self-sufficiency for young
“Being in foster care felt like being incarcerated,” shared a young person with lived experience. Incarceration, the act of confining a person, is used for retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation. Youth in foster care have not committed a crime so
Imagine if a stranger took you away from the only home you had ever known. Your family, friends, everything that was familiar – gone. Imagine the confusion, sadness, anger, and fear. This is the experience of a child being taken
The National Youth in Transition Database reports that 26% of youth transitioning out of foster care experience homelessness by age 21. Are they experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness or couch surfing at a friend’s house? Are they homeless because of
This Month – Independent Living Programs Selfless Love Foundation is proud to offer youth with lived experience a safe space to connect, express themselves, and feel heard. Our youth engagement initiative, One Voice Impact, further elevates youth voice by empowering our
Standardize Life Skills Selfless Love Foundation’s One Voice Impact youth leaders are vocal about the need for Florida to improve how it delivers life skills training courses to youth in foster care. These youth have experienced the challenges of accessing these
“Foster care is an imperfect solution to an impossible problem.” Those words from Lived Experience Expert, Gaelin Elmore, resonated with me as I attended the 2022 Texas Child Care Administrators Conference. Gaelin spoke about the importance of building a sense
Selfless Love Foundation CEO Ashley Brown and youth advocate Madison Kemp discuss how they are helping current and former foster youth enrich lives on 'America's Newsroom. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6317347178112
Youth involved in the foster care system need to have both a voice and a choice. Afterall, what is the point of using your voice if you don’t have any choices? Youth with lived experience who attended the Florida Coalition
Growing up in care, I was not confident. One of the struggles of growing up in care, especially after experiencing abuse, is being happy with who you are and trusting yourself to know what you need for yourself. I remember
