Running Tables for Aged-Out Youth

How do we help young adults who have aged-out of foster care who were not adopted or reunited with families? Imagine turning 21 years old and suddenly having to navigate adulthood on your own. You are torn between being glad you no longer have to answer to a foster care system, but unprepared to face finding housing, getting a job, or learning how to become a successful adult.

DCFYI has a program designed to match young adults with 5-8 volunteers who commit to working together for one year to share their social connections and help the young adult achieve their goals. These Tables act like an extended family and support system for the young adult.

Questions for the group to consider:

How old were you when you truly "on your own"? Who did you turn to for advice about finding a career path, getting an apartment, or establishing a budget?

Have you ever been in a situation where you found yourself in survival mode, unable to think of long-term goals because all that mattered was how to get through what was happening right NOW?