Rest my heart and mind
I am now in my fourth year of college. Since our life now is very restricted and confined due to Covid-19, I have come to realize very clearly that real independent life comes after leaving foster care.
Opinion Exchange Forum at Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare
As a foster youth alumni, I had the opportunity to participate in the “Opinion Exchange Forum on Strengthening Independent Living Support for Foster Care” held at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in August with my fellow Tokyo team member, Ms. Harada.
Experience Living In An Independent Living Program
Thalia Garcia
Living in an independent living program was a difficult experience, but I managed to rise above the difficulties.
The program was called Pathways. I came to this program at 17, because I had to exit the foster care system and was still experiencing homelessness. Although I was sad and […]
Life After Foster Care: What Happens After 18?
Janell Braxton
Year after year there’s that one day that we all reflect on in celebration of our individuality, that one song that echoes in our brain ‘happy birthday to you’ except this birthday… This birthday is different-you’ve become an adult aging 18. In the eyes of the foster care […]
After Care by Chihiro Sato
Chihiro Sato
Compared to other facilities, the one I lived in had very substantial after care. Of course there was care after I left the facility, but I think the preparation to become independent was also quite fulfilling.
Among the things I want to talk about today is the […]
Speech for the July 12th, 2015 Youth Summit in Seattle
Yukika
Speech for the July 12th, 2015
Hello. My name is Yukika. I am 28 years old. I am one of IFCA’s two youth program coordinators in Tokyo. I also work as a volunteer for an NPO called Bridge for Smile and am supporting their scholarship program.
I was living with my […]
College Entrance and Scholarship System
Susumu Yamanouchi
I was bullied for being a foster child in my later elementary school years. I got hit and kicked by my classmates. I got an email that said to die. I hated it and told my mother that I wanted to take the junior high school exam […]
Aging out – Janice’s case
Janice Cole
“Aging out” is a popular term in the foster care world. For US foster youth, it’s something everyone goes through when they either turn 18 or graduate from high school. The term refers to when a foster youth becomes old enough to no longer be in the […]
Aging out – Yoshie’s case
Yoshie
When I heard the word “aging-out”, I immediately thought of “freedom”.
There were no paved roads for young people who are aging out. They would have to create their own roads to be independent adults.
It is true that your own decisions and actions determine the course of your transition […]
Aging out – Tim’s case
Timothy Bell
I often refer to this moment in my life around my 18th birthday where the family I thought would love and support me throughout my life rejected me… or so I thought. In actuality, what had happened was that we had two different ideas about what our […]