At 18 years old, Jaylen has already faced a steep climb in life compared to her peers. Without support, many young people find the path to adulthood incredibly difficult. But rather than letting obstacles overload her, Jaylen is using her experiences to build a better future and inspire others. Through determination, and support from LifeSet, she is making incredible strides toward independence and success.

Jaylen was placed in foster care due to her parents’ struggles with drug addiction, which led to instability in her home life. Entering state care presented many challenges that included separation from her younger siblings.

“That first week in foster care was the hardest,” Jaylen said. “My little brother was just 5 years old, and my sister was 9. They didn’t understand what was happening. Every night, they would come to my room just to cry. They needed someone familiar, someone who loved them.”

Jaylen also battled addiction and turned to substances as an outlet to cope with the instability in her life.

“I let the pain control me for a long time,” she said. “But I realized I didn’t want my past to dictate my future. Getting sober was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding.”

Currently a senior in high school, Jaylen balances an incredibly demanding schedule. She attends school during the day and works a full-time job.

With help from LifeSet Specialist Julie Padgett], Jaylen has taken significant steps toward self-sufficiency. One of her biggest goals was securing stable housing and transportation. She applied for HUD housing and is awaiting approval. Additionally, Jaylen took a driving class to obtain her license and is working with the Goodwill Opportunity Center to purchase a car. Through this program, she secured a $500 match to help with the down payment of $1,000.

Not only is Jaylen focused on her goals, but she is also helping others who experienced foster care to reach theirs. Through an internship with iFoster’s peer support program, she is using her experiences to help youth impacted by foster care. She regularly speaks to a recovery group, sharing her story and inspiring attendees to seek the support they need. She encouraged others to enter programs like LifeSet and work toward stability.

“I know what it feels like to be lost, to feel like nobody understands what you’re going through,” she said. “That’s why I share my story… so someone else might feel less alone and know that they can make it out, too.”

Jaylen is excited to graduate high school this summer and looking forward to opportunities to work with other young people. Her willingness to share about overcoming her own challenges while working toward independence makes her an invaluable mentor.

“I want to keep helping people,” she said. “If I can use my experiences to make someone else’s journey a little easier, then everything I’ve been through will have been worth it.”

About Youth Villages – Kentucky

In collaboration with the Department of Community Based Services, our work in Kentucky focuses on strengthening families to prevent or limit the need for out-of-home placements (Intercept) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they enter adulthood (LifeSet).

Do you or someone you know need support from LifeSet in Kentucky? To learn more about eligibility and referral criteria, please email KYLifeSet@youthvillages.org.

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