The RightWay Foundation's Impact During Foster Care Awareness Month

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and it's important to shed light on the challenges faced by children in foster care and those who emancipate from the system. These youth are often faced with obstacles such as homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment.

At The RightWay Foundation, our mission is to make a positive impact in the lives of foster youth and be the support system they need.

In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, we want to highlight some of the successes our youth have experienced through our programs.

Data from PubMed Central shows that approximately 24,000 adolescents across the United States make the transition from foster care to independent living each year. Of these 24,000, 40% will experience homelessness and struggle to maintain employment, while only 46% of emancipated youth will have received their GED or diploma.

These statistics are the reason why it's important to raise awareness and provide support for these young adults. Unfortunately, the current system often fails to offer the necessary support for them to easily transition into adult life as well as to succeed as independent adults.

In contrast, The RightWay Foundation is dedicated to uplifting transition-age youth through our programs, which focus on Mental Health, Housing, Employment, and Community. These pillars are evident in our mentorship workshops, job readiness training, and mental health services, creating an all-round approach to help the youth build the skills they need to thrive.

We are proud to celebrate the success of the 121 transition-age youth we have helped in the last year. Among these youth, 80% obtained employment or paid work experience, 82% reported improved mental health and emotional well-being, and 35% enrolled and pursued higher education.

Foster Care Awareness Month is a reminder of the important needs of foster youth, and at RightWay, we stand as a beacon of hope and support. Through our programs, we aspire to create a world where all foster youth have the opportunity to be successful.

Sources: PubMed Central.

Author: Chris V Edited: Marissa F