Can you imagine what your life would look like without the love and support of your family? Unfortunately, for the 12,000 children in foster care in NC, what is only in your imagination, is a daily reality for them. Sadly, when children in foster care turn 18 without a family to rely on, 40% of them will become instantly homeless.
Children who age out of foster care, meaning they turn 18 years old and do not have a family to turn to, are at greater risk for not only becoming homeless, but incarcerated, addicted, unemployed, or pregnant before they are 21 years old. The goal of Children’s Home Society is to give children and young adults the tools and resources they need to lead a successful life so they can create their own permanent, safe, and loving family in the future.
Destiny Shyrier
“SaySo is my lifeline. Without SaySo I wouldn’t have the support or guidance needed to have graduated from high school and make it into college. SaySo helped connect me to resources to get school paid for and supplies I needed.” ~ Destiny
SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out), a program of Children’s Home Society, is a statewide service for youth aged 14 to 24 who are, or have been, in the out-of-home care system in North Carolina, including foster care, kinship care, group homes, and mental health placements. SaySo provides educational and support services aimed at successfully transitioning youth to adulthood and operates 29 chapters across North Carolina with a membership of over 750 young adults. SaySo works with youth in foster care, foster care alumni, social workers, foster parents, and foster care advocates. SaySo also advocates for foster care at the local, state, and national government levels, informing legislators of the challenges and opportunities facing youth in foster care.
Mary Doms
“SaySo is my family. I’ve been a part of SaySo since being a young teen. My birth parents are deceased, and SaySo provided the care, support, and guidance I needed to be a successful adult. Having other youth and encouraging adults around me who are in similar situations has been a great gift.” ~ Mary
