The advice I give the youth in foster care

As a case manager in the system.

I work for a non-profit agency that is licensed through DCS to care for youth who are aging out of the foster care system. The youth at my site are ages 16–21, and yes, kids can stay in the system after the age of 18 if they sign a voluntary contract. We would love to work with these kids forever, there are a few things we try to teach them before they turn 21 and age out of the foster care system.

If they’re in the foster care system, they have trauma. Trauma can make it harder…