2013 All-Stars

Patricia was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, but moved to New York at a young age. She was fortunate to be placed in the same home as her sibling. Her placement became permanent when their foster parents adopted Patricia and her brother. In the few years that followed, she gained four... Read more

Ollie entered Nevada’s foster care system at age 9. She experienced many placements, several of which she describes as therapy foster homes which helped her to cope with the passing of her mother. Despite her many placements Ollie did have the opportunity to be adopted by a loving family. After... Read more

Melissa has dedicated her life and career to empowering foster youth. Years of instability growing up in foster care and bouncing from home to home sparked her passion to reform the child welfare system. After ‘aging out’ of the system, Melissa started collaborating with advocacy groups to empower and lift... Read more

Lydia Entered the state’s care at the age of 4 alongside her siblings. After many foster homes, two failed kinship care placements and an upwards of eight elementary schools she was separated from her siblings. Shortly after being placed in her mother's care at the age of nine, her mother... Read more

Jessica entered the foster care system at age 10 due to her mother’s addiction. Family and sibling separation were very difficult for her. After intense family therapy Jessica was placed back in her mother’s home, but removed again for the same reasons. She eventually went into her grandmother’s care where... Read more

David entered Washington’s foster care system at age 11 shortly after his brother’s death. It was after suffering from abuse and neglect that David was found and put into foster care in order to have a stable household. Fortunately, he was placed into a great family who ended up becoming... Read more

3 months in the foster care system. Anonymous entered the foster care system with their younger brother at the age of 14. They were placed in the care of their aunt and uncle for 3 months, then reunified with their father. After graduating from high school, they traveled the country... Read more

6 years in Kentucky’s foster care system. Stephanie was placed into Kentucky's foster care system at the age of 14 after a troubled past that included truancy. Although there was much healing to do from her experience with her birth family, Stephanie eventually learned to embrace the second chance and... Read more

4 years in Missouri’s foster care system. TeAsia initially entered Missouri’s foster care system at age 17. She was removed out of her home and this resulted in homelessness. She continued to get good grades and kept up with three after schools jobs. After three unsuccessful foster placements that is... Read more

3 years in Florida’s and Michigan’s foster care system David was adopted from the foster care system as an infant by a single man who worked in the hospital. David grew up with five other siblings who weren't related by blood, but loved each other as such. In 2008, David... Read more