First Lady Melania Trump is bringing much-deserved attention to how our nation can support foster youth as they enter adulthood through her “Fostering the Future” initiative. She recently appeared before a bipartisan gathering of the House Ways and Means Committee, where Chairman Jason Smith commended her work to “improve the lives of America’s foster youth.” Together, the First Lady and Congress are taking an inspiring, holistic approach to empower foster youth to build the bright, hopeful futures they deserve by addressing housing, workforce opportunity, education, family and community services and more.
These are all areas where the partnerships between donors and nonprofit organizations committed to advancing liberty, opportunity and personal responsibility have been innovating and equipping foster youths for success as they become young adults. By embracing bold approaches to providing supportive services to youth and young adults who have been in foster care, the philanthropic sector continues to play a powerful role in improving outcomes that build stronger communities.
Center for the Rights of Abused Children: Providing Legal Support
Darcy Olsen founded the Center for the Rights of Abused Children to address shortcomings in the legal system for foster youth and safeguard their constitutional rights. They maintain a network of pro bono attorneys to fight for the rights of children, ensuring that they are heard and protected. Their approach prioritizes taking an individual approach on behalf of those they represent to overcome bureaucratic hurdles that give the government unchecked powers over the lives of vulnerable children.
Salvation Army: Turning Point Center for Women and Children
In a 2023 interview with the Philanthropy Roundtable, Dale Bannon, national development secretary for The Salvation Army, discussed how the organization is helping young women aging out of foster care. Their Turning Point program supports mothers and children in the Greater Washington, D.C., area through a transitional housing program that prepares them for independent living and builds peer support systems.
Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities: “Working Smarter” to Take on Poverty
This 2022 interview with James Sullivan, co-founder of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunity, highlights the Dave Thomas Foundation’s work. By providing resources to organizations supporting foster care and adoption, they have made a huge impact in supporting kids who need homes, with a particular focus on older children.
