Youth voices: Life after foster care - Full length version

[@jacobthompson6265]

I aged out 4 years ago. Now I’m about to graduate from one of the most prestigious colleges in the country. It’s been hard work. If it weren’t for my mentor, I don’t know where I would be right now.

[@melanierxdoc]

I just singed up to be a mentor to aged out foster youth! I’m really looking forward to this!! Thank you for sharing your story.

[@aundreamcclairne7454]

Congratulations to you 🎉. Keep striving. Don't give up. The Best is yet to come. Praying for you 🙏🏼 ❤️

[@NBC09]

Keep going! God BLESS YOU👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

I have so much admiration for Adrian. He actually 'raised himself'. Hang in, guy. You are really amazing!!

[@JasonGafar]

Holy cow, Adrian is so inspiring. He went through so much but came out so strong!! God bless him!

[@keepitsimpleydb6151]

Julius - thankful you forgave. You are a winner. So smart.

[@cynthiaclark7575]

“Location is not stability.” Wise words, Renee!

[@annmcdonald7713]

These young people need to speak to foster kids in the system now. It would be so helpful

[@speakintothemicb]

Yes. That's what I currently do.

[@juliebraun281]

Great job Julius. Such honesty and being vulnerable...Bless you for being willing to open yourself to others to help them. Trust is a big deal. I was a foster kid also. Thank God for your adoptive parents. May God bless your future! This kiddo is very articulate!

[@aundreamcclairne7454]

I'm so happy for you. To have a Mom and Dad who loves. God bless you 🙏🏼 ❤️

[@cassiecarmichael]

I have so much respect for him for telling his story. Thanks for explaining to the world the feelings of children in foster care and adoption.

[@realitycheck6]

These young adults are absolutely amazing, especially considering everything that they have gone through!! I want to hug each one of them! I would love to meet each one!! The heartbreak they endured, and how they speak of life, growth, and the outlooks that they are sharing so very well!

[@Spider_7_7]

Some kids go through so many hard and painful things. It is heart breaking.

[@cynthiaclark7575]

Guidance and a support system. We take it for granted, but they craved it with every fiber of their being. God bless them!

[@deb9784]

Wow, what tremendous young people! I am so impressed by them all! All they overcame, obstacles that most of us would be crushed by! And the families that took them in are simply spectacular! To give them a chance to land on their feet! It's certainly something is like to participate in! God bless them all!

[@realitycheck6]

Just started video and first young man seems like such a positive, beautiful soul! What a beautiful story!!❤

[@plantingseeds9869]

Proud of these young adults i pray the find a path to the better side.

[@lindafrazier9367]

I love his spirit, personality, and healthy perspective on life. The young lady has a healthy and trusting view on life. She has an empathetic heart...both so kind! It's so important to have someone to call for the basic questions in life. He is such a positive and strong young man, so proud of him. And then the contrast of two young ladies. The one was anticipating the benefits of adoption and it worked for her, yet the second stayed out of adoption to be there with her brother. She later reflected on the benefits of somebody to guide her since everything has been trial and error. She discouraged aging out for the basics (life skills, health insurance, college, orphan of the court, being "homesick" with no home to go to,find a way to be normal, etc). "You already had a hard life, so why make it harder? Location is not stability." She is so wise and I'm so sorry she had to go through that. I would love to be there for these children because they're such beautiful souls.

[@RachelA147]

Adrian (or anyone else who relates to Adrian's experience) - you are valuable and always have been. Even when nasty things are said to you. I wish I could go back in time and offer younger you comfort and support. That must be, and probably still is disorienting having a disconnected yet volatile parent. The hardest part is not knowing what you never had. Having no frame of reference to compare your experiences to can make it hard to see your own self worth. I hope for the best for you wherever you are. ❤ Everything doesn't have to make sense, for you to make sense of things. There are questionarres to help you establish what your personal value system is and what boundaries are negotiable, and non-negotiable based on your value system. This was the core of my journey to achieving self esteem, self accountability, self compassion, etc. I hope this helps you not just find direction, but create your own internal, independent direction and purpose in life apart from outside influence. Wherever you are, I am sending good vibes ❤️

[@kellyrandallcreecy8344]

I am so very proud of you and only know you from what I have heard via your video. You have a story to tell and one that many need to know. You are amazing and to see that you hold no hatred and anger, is admirable. You are a blessing, Mr. Kissinger and the world is yours. God Bless! P/S My husband and I are hoping (prayerful) to adopt 3 teenage sons.

[@caroleastmond9064]

Adrian, you are an amazingly wonderful young man, all the best to you, and to all of the rest of those wonderful young people, just all the best to all of you!!!❤️

[@sarahrichard4853]

I wish I could meet each of these individuals. People don't understand me ever and watching these guys talk makes me realize there really are people out the who understand me

[@jasonscurlockdontchangemyn7234]

brave and intelligent kid....the kisinger kid...he is very brave...takes one to know one...

[@annemariepolich1433]

Adrian you are amazing. Thank you for sharing your story. You've made the best of it! I wish you every success in life.

[@yvonnemunongo1486]

Renne talked deeper. I felt that. The other guy whose dad was in the military dang. These videos are giving me a different perspective into what am about to walk into being a Foster parent. Help me God

[@dr.oraelshaddaiprayerchann4201]

My husband was a foster child he never was adopted but his Foster parents raised him until he was 37 when I met him he was 52 have a lot of trust issues but through my trust and love for Jesus Christ I was able to win him back to the Lord we were married he was still working through some trust issues that he have had with other people and women but he was able to come to that's on his life where he could trust me and to see that I was for him and not there to hurt him for to help him we were married for 12 years he is with the Lord now he died in 2014 of liver cancer it was a life experience for me to be able to be there in his life and to take care of him doing his last year's God put people together for a reason you don't always know what their purpose is but it is a good purpose and plan because God has it for all of us I'm also looking to becoming a foster parent and perhaps even adopted parents I'm not young as I used to be but I would love to share some love and my faith with a chop is have never heard of the love of Jesus Christ and his forgiveness

[@raymondbrown9237]

My goal is to open a program in the future for children who have Aged Out 💪🏾 I am currently working in a group home for Foster Youth with young men from the age of 11 to 18 I am going on 6 years working in a group home setting...I went from being a Child Care Worker to a Facility Manager to a Lead Facility Manager and now I am a Unit Coordinator next step is an Administrator then...I will have the knowledge to run my program...I have 6 years of experience as an Substitute Instructional Aide for the Superintendent School District with the Emotionally Disturbed Youth from Elementary to Jr. High School 🏫 I have dedicated my life to saving children with the help of the LORD 👑 I will do continue to do this !!! Love, Patience, Compassion, Hope, Kindness, Gentleness, Humility, Understanding and Prayer 🙏🏾🙌🏾💪🏾👏🏾💙😁

[@deb9784]

All the best! We need individuals like you to step up and inspire these broken children! I'm sure they'd love some stability and grace! God bless you on your journey!

[@chandaharkins4418]

Wow. He's so strong despite his history.

[@listitj9452]

Wow he is a great young man. Positive and so so eloquent..

[@sahdi2910]

Wish way to connect families to those aging out so could be their surrogate families. Some cant adopt may be due to home size or finances or number of kids already in home, but have love in their hearts to want to support and welcome these young folks into their lives and fams.

[@OFFICIALPGBEATS]

Man I’m inspired to use my story to help some of these kids as I am older. It’s so sad, all of my siblings where taken and it’s not easy dealing mentally with the feeling of abandonment. I wish the for the best for any kid who experience this. Much love

[@thomasmitchell4756]

Any parent would be proud to have a young man like Adrian. Where is he now?

[@beeonkuhh8597]

I hope the absolute best for every one of these beautiful people.

[@szeszi21]

Renee, your teeth are super cute! They are part of you, and you have a very vibrant personality.

[@eyem4freedom]

These are amazing young people. I have such a heart to help! God bless you all

[@shannonwooters3443]

I want to adopt every kid. This all breaks my heart so bad... If i ever become rich or win the lottery id buy as many homes as i could for kids in the system. Children dont deserve abuse

[@mattiadizard7431]

I was going to brookdale community college to be a preschool teacher after i got out of highschool in 2009 I survived being burned by my klg kinship legal gaurdian in nj in foster care here in nj

[@johnredorn]

He is a smart young man

[@johnredorn]

wow I hear most of them keep mentioning having someone to call on the phone

[@mariahhall8481]

As a young adult I understand this. It’s a difficult situation to be in really. It can be depressing and in my experience I was no longer happy in it. My younger sister which I am very concerned about. The system is really messed up behind closed doors.

[@shannonwooters3443]

Separating siblings no matter how many shouldnt be aloud

[@plantingseeds9869]

Lord what can i do to help? Ive never exprienced foster care system however i'm a adult who've been without loving parents my entire life.

[@KelliHill-Haynes]

very inspirational stories

[@janellemargot4376]

LOL, why I got to go to this class 3 times of week when I can go once and pass. STOP THE MADNESS. Girl I felt that!!! 😂

[@eli-ezel]

I wish I could get in contact with Renee she's such an inspiration for me. I'm currently in foster care and will be aging out by August. I have so many things I wish I could ask her.

[@DigimonTamerfreak]

Eliezer Diaz I am a former foster care survivor and I wish you luck on your journey it will be hard. Once you find your standing ground hopefully you are able to use your journey as an inspiration to assist those currently trapped in foster care as there are many many ways to give back.

[@eli-ezel]

Thank you Ricardo!! I agree with you it's important to help our people. God bless you.

[@mydailyreward2090]

Eli how are you doing?

[@caroleastmond9064]

All of these state child care agencies, should have a team of mentors, or big brothers and big sisters, to help these wonderful kids who are aging out the system and going on to college or work. Adrian, is so right when he says you do need someone to talk to with all the transitions that's happens to them between college or their work life. These state child care agencies, should start looking at giving each child in their care a team of people to help them up to 4 years or 5 years out of the system, and again this team can even be three professional volunteers mentors( for each aging out young person), and they must be willing to stay in contact with their young person, for 4 to 5 years to help this young person with their transitions with their new life out the system.

[@markbajkowski1171]

Anybody remaining in the foster system until 15-18 years old must overcome many challenges to survive its emotional hardships while they succeed at it. Therefore, because of their resiliency, such persons might be the best ones to adopt. They also guarantee a realization of how much a permanent-love family is worth and appreciated. After the adoption, permitting them to re-live their earlier childhood playtime may need extra attention. In such a way, the insecurities of having no permanent home earlier may only be made better.

[@aundreamcclairne7454]

Not sure of Everyone's locations. But I have a Non-profit Organization that will be providing housing for Aged- out Foster Girls. In the near future. I will come back and post more information. Much love and Many Blessings 💕

[@carrieabowman-ankeny818]

I was in and out of different places including foster homes until I was 18 years old. I never ever fit in and a lot of horrible including bad things were being said also done to me growing up. I'll never ever forget the last foster home that I was taken away from when I was 6 1/2 years old. 😔 😢 😠

[@amapparatistkwabena]

Adrian, you're 33 years old right now, and I'm not much older than you---and I'd adopt you, lol. What parent wouldn't want this guy as a son?

[@MrLeny37]

God bless you all.

[@NBAramosfamily]

God please bless Renee with braces and give her a beautiful smile! Thank you Jesus.

[@onthetownwithtanya9368]

agency's appear to only use kids for videos, to get more funding but they don't help those kids make a speaking career and do national tours...thank you for share, hope your getting paid for it, it is needed hear your story..

[@YT4Me57]

How do you know that?

[@shayalphonse3834]

Im praying for you Adrian

[@icametoslay8506]

The best way to move forward is to forgive .

[@keepitsimpleydb6151]

I wonder what happened to Renee"s brother? The one she was so loyal too.

[@lifestylelakeishasewellwas4643]

I identified with Adrian alot. I have a Channel about aging out of foster care. Advice on life skills for foster kids.

[@imdefinitelynotataco8906]

My heart hurts

[@shayalphonse3834]

Im praying for you

[@hopefaithlove6769]

6months old so he was brain washed to believe that hes parent. Couldnt give him a better home i sense bullshit

[@dianavigoren927]

6

[@missacidqueen7227]

I hate foster care Why they took child from their own parents? Its just broke childs life I lost my mom because of foster care My mom doesn't do anything bad I told the layer that I wanna go back with my mom but the layer doesn't even help me

[@hopefaithlove6769]

Lawyer

[@1lagarti]

Foster care at times has to happen. When a child isn’t cared for properly it needs to happen. They can feel loved but that doesn’t mean the situation is good. Kids are beaten, sexually abused, neglected. They are in a home with drugs or violence. That’s why the system exists. It’s not good enough and it needs to change but I has to exists.

[@JodiJames]

@TheTruthQuest123 Incorrect. Please Google how family court works and how corrupt Child Protective Services can be. It's a for-profit State program that is exempt from federal law. There's no jury of peers that determines a verdict. Parents do not get to face their accusers. Anyone can call CPS and make an unfounded accusation and CPS will open a case against you based solely on an anonymous tip. They can also remove children from their homes without any proof of neglect or abuse and it's the only "crime" where you're guilty until you prove you're innocent, even if there's not a shred of evidence against the parent except hearsay. And a lone judge makes the final verdict. There's no oversight to state child services. No one keeps them in check. Look up the website medicalkidnap.com .

[@JodiJames]

@@1lagarti www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/committees/childrens-rights/trauma-caused-by-separation-of-children-from-parents/

[@jessicaburns6445]

The foster system doesn't take kids from their parents for no reason. So parents don't just "do nothing" to get their kids taken. Hope you find a family

[@gardenjoy5223]

My foster daughter broke my heart so often, that I lost count. It was always just about her. Me being very ill, meant only she would stop doing anything at the house, not even her small chores. She could teach a Master's Degree in being lazy and taking advantage. She moved out, her own wish, half a year ago, being 18. My husband and I had to keep forgiving her and decide we would still be there for her. I invited her for Christmas at least four times, before she said yes, and is only coming one day. So who can paint my surprise, when on a special day for me, she sent a gift for all living here, with some nice words. Maybe it wasn't all for nothing, after all.