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I aged out of the foster care system - because I did not want to be adopted and did not want to be separated from my mom who was disabled and needed me. I was on waiting child lists and was placed in foster to adopt homes that disrupted when they figured out I didn't want to be adopted and especially when they learned I wanted to go visit my mom on holidays and my birthday and pretty much as much as possible despite her parental rights being terminated. If your mom was in a nursing home, how terrible of a person would you have to be to not visit her? I'm not sure why i was somehow treated as if I was supposed to find a new mom because my mom couldn't care for me. This is what really angers me. I couldn't take myself off the waiting child list which had an entirely bogus profile for me that didn't include anything about the situation with my mom. Nor were foster parents told (they all wanted to adopt and I was legally free to be adopted). My profile described me as as an honor student who liked horses so I got inquires. But they didn't want to actually help me, they wanted to adopt an honor student who like horses who was not me (none of that was true). I did not need a forever family - I needed someone to help me and my mom. This is the problem with the foster care system - no one listened to me because what I wanted didn't fit with what foster parents wanted - to adopt. I had to have 6 years of being constantly moved because I didn't want to be adopted and lose contact with my mom and have no one making sure she was ok.

I aged out and while I was homeless for a period, I enlisted in the USAF with the help of a classmate's family and I worked at Wendy's while I was finishing up high school. The stats on former foster youth who age out focus on those who stay in the area and are struggling, not those who leave like me. No ever followed up to see what happened to me. They knew I didn't have any place to live after I left the group home I was at the day I turned 18 and thanks to the stupidity of the foster care system moving me so often, I didn't graduate high school until I turned 19. So, I probably helped the stats that looked like all foster youth who age out are doomed. But i wasn't. And adoption isn't the only way to actually have a future. The ridiculously religious foster families who wanted adopt me would have ruined my life. I feel escaped from them. I am so thankful I wasn't adopted nor did I need to be adopted to have supportive people in my life. My classmates' family were awesome. And I can't say enough about the support I received in the Air Force. What about you guys focusing on getting jobs at Wendy's for former foster youth rather than all this focus on adoption?

Not sure of Everyone's locations. But I have a Non-profit Organization that will be providing housing for Aged- out Foster Girls. In the near future. I will come back and post more information. Much love and Many Blessings 💕

I'm so happy for you. To have a Mom and Dad who loves. God bless you 🙏🏼 ❤️

Wow, life is tough enough as is, I can't imagine how tough it is at 18 with nobody to support you. Hang in there!!! Be strong and a better example to your kids than your parents were.

Blessings to all who demonstrate such love and care!

God bless this beautiful family. What an incredible story, that brought me to tears ❤

So inspiring and wonderful.

We need more Tyler's

Great job Julius. Such honesty and being vulnerable...Bless you for being willing to open yourself to others to help them. Trust is a big deal. I was a foster kid also. Thank God for your adoptive parents. May God bless your future! This kiddo is very articulate!

I am forever in this family’s debt. Thank you for adopting and loving my (bio) granddaughter. I would like to set a little something straight though, she was not medically neglected as a child. She was not taken from her mother. Again, thank you Aaryn and Ken.

God bless this man, his wife, and this girl. And everyone who helps these poor kids who through no fault of their own have to suffer.

You're dad would be very proud of you!!! God bless your family!!

My daughter is adopted too!

I’m here to stay.

very inspirational stories

LLT🕊️

brave and intelligent kid....the kisinger kid...he is very brave...takes one to know one...

Sweet girl! Bless these people.

Adrian (or anyone else who relates to Adrian's experience) - you are valuable and always have been. Even when nasty things are said to you. I wish I could go back in time and offer younger you comfort and support. That must be, and probably still is disorienting having a disconnected yet volatile parent. The hardest part is not knowing what you never had. Having no frame of reference to compare your experiences to can make it hard to see your own self worth. I hope for the best for you wherever you are. ❤ Everything doesn't have to make sense, for you to make sense of things. There are questionarres to help you establish what your personal value system is and what boundaries are negotiable, and non-negotiable based on your value system. This was the core of my journey to achieving self esteem, self accountability, self compassion, etc. I hope this helps you not just find direction, but create your own internal, independent direction and purpose in life apart from outside influence. Wherever you are, I am sending good vibes ❤️

I have 2 nieces that were adopted. My bio niece was adopted by my Aunt. She is now a Educator leader with 2 beautiful children. My adopted niece has a heck of a story. My sister was in McDonalds. A lady walked up to her and asked if she would adopt her baby. The lady said he watched as she interacted with her own children. My sister said yes. The adoption happened quickly. My niece is a police officer and she teaches. Good family matters.

Andrea is a person that I greatly admire and may God bless her all of her days! 🙏🏻✝️✌🏼

It is wicked cool how Tyler looks like both of his Dads. I hope Tyler is still doing well!

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Do you really believe the story?

I am crying..... so beautiful. God bless these young women and their family. So moving.<3

Such beautiful family. God bless them.

Such great work you do! I just found you through linked in! Looking forward to following the foundation :)

Love Ernie's story! So happy for you!

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I love you Nik!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I so love this! This is such a beautiful story. Brought me tears of joy! This is the perfect example of fighting the good fight! This brought so many joy and helped bring a family back together. It shows, love conquers all and hope truly is worth holding on to. God bless you for this work and May god continue to keep this young lady, her mother, and their family. 🙏🏾💜

Thank you for bringing awareness so that these children can find a loving home ❤❤

L🥰VE

Awesome Foundation!!

Wow I can't imagine growing up knowing that your mom was a failure and that you're just "on loan" to some caretakers. Especially the part about her not liking birthdays because she'd be one year closer to aging out of foster care. How terrible! Poor girl. I'm glad she found a home. No kid should have to go through this.

Im praying for you Adrian

Im praying for you

When I get resettled, I would like to consider my ability to support somehow. I am 81 and needing support myself, but with God anything is possible. I keep all your com-munications and totally believe in what you're doing. Thank you for this last one. No matter what happens in these kid's lives now, this will no doubt be a huge part of each of their stories going forward. And ours, as we pay attention to it! God Bless all! Joanne

My adopted children were loved by their respective birth parents too. But unfortunately they couldnt get off drugs. They didnt make good decisions in spite of many, many chances. And the extended families only stepped up after the rights were terminated in spite of also knowing about the situation from the get go and having many many offers to help prior. Noone wants to take kids away from families...its not only sad, its a financial burden for the state and the system already overwhelmed with kids. Everyone who thinks this is sad should keep an eye out for their own relatives..so if they need advice, assistance they are there before CPS gets involved. We are all responsible to ensure the children, rather than the parents, come first.

What a beautiful story for all of them. A wonderful family!

Great story, so happy for them!!! Thank you.

Wonderful!

Your "Yes" was a beautiful Choice. I'm sure it was not easy adapting through your home move and just being on a fast track to make it happen. You chose selflessly and I wanted to just say Thank you for doing what other believe is too hard to do. You make a positive difference every day!

Wow he is a great young man. Positive and so so eloquent..

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