Fostering Greatness Inc.

If selected as a winner, I would use the Elevate Prize funding to enhance the services and programmatic options at Fostering Greatness Inc. for foster care youth, young adults and alumni. I would invest into the Hank Rose Advocacy Academy to assist foster care alumni with the full optimal training needed in order for them to mentor foster care youth that are still trying to navigate their way through the foster care system. 

I grew up in the Buffalo, NY, in the foster care system. I understand firsthand the challenges and obstacles that foster care youth face. I was fortunate enough to be mentored by people who assisted me in fostering my greatness. I founded Fostering Greatness Inc. to assist those like me who have had a lived foster care experience. As an alumna of foster care, I know firsthand about the good, bad, ugly, missed opportunities, the mistrust, and the distrust of the foster care system. My vision to change the narrative of negative statistics to positive outcomes for foster care youth, young adults and alumni, those who are still navigating the foster care system, unsuccessfully. Fostering Greatness Inc. will serve as platform to make effective, efficient, and real change obtainable.

My goal is to support my fellow foster care alumni in taking control of their lives by assisting them with access, opportunities, and community supports to obtain the resources that they need and deserve in order to be their best selves.

Fostering Greatness Inc. was created by foster care alumni for foster care youth, young adults, and alumni. We are making the difference that we wanted others to make for us.

Fostering Greatness Inc. assists transitioning foster care youth, young adults and alumni of color from ages 16 to 35 with life skills, housing stability, education, career advancement, personal and professional development, leadership development, and full optimal health management.

This population is one of the most vulnerable, underserved, underrepresented and forgotten populations in the United States. They face increased rates of unemployment, homelessness, incarceration, and other adverse situations. They often lack the skills and support needed to obtain sustainable employment and are less likely to have graduated from high school or college, resulting in diminished opportunities for earning living wages and having successful careers in the workforce. 23,000 youth age out of the foster care system each year and after reaching the age of 18, 20% become instantly homeless, are 10 times more likely to end up in human trafficking; 25% will not receive a high school diploma; 50% will be unemployed; 60% of young men will be convicted of a crime; fewer than 13% have a college degree; many earn less than $7,500 per year with 70% relying on government assistance; 7 out of 10 girls will become pregnant before the age of 21; 50% will develop a substance addiction.

Fostering Greatness has developed a unique wraparound program that moves a vulnerable population toward economic self sufficiency while addressing some of the issues that might otherwise impede workforce development or educational opportunities. 

A combination of direct and in-direct services delivery model will be utilized while the participants are on-sight and due to the current pandemic, virtual access may be needed as it relates to follow-up meetings and the training program requirements that may not be in-person.

Strength-based and needs assessments will be utilized to assess the strengths and needs of the population through the initial intake assessment period. This will also be applied upon entry of the training program and maintained throughout the training program.

Staff will initiate the intake orientation which will give the participants an opportunity to learn more about what they can expect during the training program and upon completion, how long it will take the participants to get to their desired outcome and to engage in community building activities with their peers and the staff. Allowing the main points of access, opportunities and community supports to be utilized by the participants and to fulfill the goal of establishing promotive and protective factors. 

Foster care youth, young adults and alumni are the most vulnerable, underserved and forgotten populations within the United States.

Fostering Greatness Inc. is working on life sustainability, to assist this population with the necessary foundation in order to thrive and NOT just survive. We provide solutions and options to navigate through or around the barriers that have prevented this population from succeeding and we offer guidance and case management. We also provide mentorship from those who are have also had a lived experience within the foster care system in order to assist with real-life interactions with the population that we serve. We utilize strength-based assessments, transformational leadership strategies and exposure to educational and career options that are meaningful for the population that we serve.

Studies have shown that this particular population connects to people and not programs; that social connection with people they trust and that will assist them is needed and wanted. Studies have shown that if this population is connected to at least one caring adult, that they will thrive in life. This is how we know that our approach and our work has been impactful and successful.