Real Stories

Before I met my two dads I found myself living the life of a chameleon and at times I still do, masking who I am, adapting and trying to fit in where I never thought I'd ever belong. When I was on the edge of ending it all together, my two dads saved my life. My fathers helped me discover...

Sonia Emerson 26 years old She/Her/Hers 16 years in Ohio's child welfare system. Sonia Emerson entered foster care at the age of two, she was removed from her biological mother due to neglect and abuse. At the age of 9, she was adopted. This was an opportunity for Sonia to have a permanent home, unfortunately, the adoption failed due to...

Patrick Gem Gabbett 20 years old He/Him/His & They/Them/Theirs 3 years in California's child welfare system. Patrick entered care at the age of 17 after escaping his abusive family, with the support of his online friends, school staff, and journalism teacher. He has opted into extended care until this fall when he will age out of the system. Patrick’s most...

Chrissy Carter 19 years old She/Her/Hers & They/Them/Theirs 5 years in Pennsylvania's child welfare system. Chrissy Carter entered care at the age of 13. They were asked to be removed from their home to ensure their safety as a queer black youth. After being removed, they were fortunate enough to find a home with two women who identify as lesbian...

"I feel like I have a voice, and I'm going to use that voice to push that change as far as I can." Tamara Milford, 2017 FosterClub All-Star, shares with Channel 4 News, watch the full interview here. Tamara was placed into care after the death of her mother in 2012, at the age of 14 in her hometown of...

Tristan knows the power of sharing your story. As a young trans man, he spent nine months in the foster care system and faced many adverse experiences because of his identity. As a FosterClub Young Leader and a strong advocate for LGBTQ youth, Tristan’s advocacy work was fundamental to the success of Nevada’s Assembly Bill 99, a measure signed into...