February Staff Recommendations

Unprotected: Aging Out of Foster Care

Short NBC News Segment Unprotected: Aging Out of Foster Care follows Christina Abraham, a foster youth, on her journey aging out of the system. While most young adults look forward to their 21st birthday, Christina anxiously anticipates hers. Now facing homelessness and losing support from the welfare system, she must navigate adulthood alone. Her story mirrors the reality of many young adults aging out of foster care without a reliable support system.

Jocelyn shares, “Christina’s touching story reveals the dark truth of life after foster care. The segment does an excellent job of evoking viewers’ emotions, empathizing with Christina’s situation. Watching her hope dimmish in the days leading up to and after her 21st birthday was heartbreaking. I found myself often frustrated with the lack of resources available to young adults aging out of the system and sadden to hear how dehumanizing living in group homes can be. There is no sense of normalcy for youth like Christina. Braving adulthood with no support system to fall back on or a trusted adult to confide in truly makes navigating life a thousand times more difficult.”

Fairfax County Community Corner Website

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DeAngela shares, “This is a helpful resource that assists community members stay in the know about DFS information. You can enter your email and subscribe to this newsletter.”

Indira’s Story

In a testimony featured by the American Bar Association, Indira, a former foster youth, recounts her traumatic experience in the child welfare system. The Department of Family Services removed Indira and her siblings from their home. Her stepfather had violently attacked their mother. Although abuse had occurred before, this was the first time the children were placed in foster care.

From the removal to reunification, Indira and her siblings endured significant hardship and trauma. DFS separated the children, each having gone through multiple placements. While in foster care, they experienced neglect and faced an increased risk of abuse. Despite voicing these concerns, nothing changed for Indira and her siblings. Days turned into months, and months turned into years, before the children were finally reunited with their mother. Today, they are left with the painful memories of foster care, especially the heartache of being separated from their mother, their only source of comfort and love.

Jocelyn shares, “People often mistakenly believe that trauma for an abused or neglected child ends once they are removed from their home. It doesn’t. Foster care isn’t exactly a ‘safe haven’—and most children want nothing more than to be at home with their family. Indira’s story underlines that trauma is continuous, leaving children to deal with its lasting impacts. One thing that struck me the most is how Indira recounts feeling ‘voiceless.’ Despite multiple attempts to alert practitioners about the abuse and neglect she experienced while in foster care, no one truly listened or advocated for her. Indira’s story highlights the importance of having someone solely dedicated to the child—not the mother, father, or any legal party.”

Click here to read January’s staff recommendations.