Imagine being a teenager in the foster care system where you don't live with your parents or even know where they are, you haven't lived with your siblings in years and you haven't been in touch with your extended family in a long time; you feel like you have no one.  Being a teen is hard enough and add on top of that the stigma of being a youth in foster care where most of your support comes from professionals. You are so excited to be turning 18 because you will now have some say over your life and what happens to you but you slowly realize that being a legal adult now has its own challenges; people don't seem to care about teens in foster care, all they seem to care about are the babies and the little kids.  You are still in high school trying to get the best education possible and work towards going to college, and in your head you say "I'm just a kid too." You hope that one day you will be able to help children, maybe even become a teacher or counselor. In the meantime, you are thinking about other things like where you will live, how you will buy the things you need to live on your own and how to live independently. Fear strikes you as you realize that maybe you are not ready to be an adult after all. 

The situation described above is one that many youth experiencing the foster care system face. While there are some programs out there to help ease this transition into adulthood, there are still gaps in services and in helping youth access tangible items. Children's Choice provides services to youth experiencing the foster care system and those who have recently transitioned to adulthood and living independently.  There are challenges with accessing safe and affordable housing and once housing is secured, finding the things that people need like furniture and household items.  Children's Choice works diligently with our community partners to gain access to services and goods but sometimes there is still a gap.  We are seeking funding to support these youth who are gaining their independence and provide them with the things to help them successfully transition into adulthood and become contributing members of their communities. These funds will go towards things like beds and bedding, dishes, cookware and cooking utensils, clothing, groceries, security deposits and other housing and emergency needs. We need individuals in our community to help us help these young adults become successful and productive members of the community.