Real Stories

Mark's Story They say your childhood is supposed to be the most joyful time of your life. My childhood was dark, full of pain, and traumatizing. Growing up, my mother suffered from a mental illness. My stepfather was physically and emotionally... Read more

Tristan's Story Advocating for myself was the most difficult part of being in the foster care system, but it’s also a vital skill to learn. Before entering the system, I had suffered plenty of abuse for being a trans man who dared... Read more

It’s no secret that growing up in foster care can be challenging. In my case, those challenges were intensified by the fact that I’m a bi-racial lesbian. Finding a place where I felt I belonged was difficult. I often imagined... Read more

Kristopher's Story Kristopher entered the Texas foster care system at the age of 10. He was removed from his family of origin after his 5th grade teacher noticed significant bruising on his torso and face. Separated from his two siblings, ... Read more

Hello, my name is Ernesto. I’m 24 years of age, and I am a gay man who was in foster care for six years. In 2003, my little brother and I were put into the foster care system and placed in a shelter - I was 13 years old. I was scared where I was at, the guys were mean and called me names. I guess this wasn’t anything new, others had called me “GAY”, “FAGGOT” or “QUEER” before. The fear of being different or singled out kept me from coming out. I knew I was gay at a young age of about five. I liked boys, but people didn’t accept that. I knew you got bullied for it. This kept me in the closet throughout my time in foster care. I didn’t talk to anyone other than my little brother while at the shelter. After three months of being there, we were moved to a foster home in San Antonio. Read more

Emmie's Story I was born in Louisiana, but my family moved to Casper, Wyoming just a few years later. This became my home for the better part of 18 years. Unfortunately, in my teen years, my family life became chaotic. All things considered, I... Read more

University of Alabama - Find Your Passion , By Deirdra Drinkard, Tuscaloosa, AL -- University of Alabama student Sean Hudson could have been a statistic - instead he's a success story. The sophomore from Bessemer grew up under the foster care system... Read more

I will never forget my twelfth birthday – on that day, my social worker appeared at my foster home with two trash bags and announced that I was moving. She handed me the bags and said, “You need to pack your things.” My things. I was hurt because... Read more

I pulled my blanket to my chin, warm already in my blue footed pajamas. My eyelids slowly began to find their other halves when again that thought shot through the warmth and sent cold tremors up the back of my neck and onto the top of my blonde... Read more

When I was eight years old, my sisters and I were removed from our home and placed in foster care in the Utah state system. Our home environment was unsafe and unstable. The idea was that we would spend temporary time in care until my mother could... Read more