NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Every year, nearly 20,000 young people age out of the foster care system across the country—more than 800 of them right here in Tennessee. Without a strong support system, many face overwhelming challenges, including homelessness, substance abuse, and incarceration.

As the school year enters its mid-point, many children begin to feel the weight of academic demands, social pressures and extracurricular commitments. Mid-year stress differs from the typical beginning-of-year excitement or end-of-year exhaustion.

The Youth Villages Intercept Program here in Greenville impacts at-risk youth in our community and across the state. The idea of “Intercept” is to reach kids who are at risk of being placed outside of the home, coming home from a foster care placement or mental health hospital and keeping them with their families in a healthy, successful living space.

Like many who have experienced the child welfare system, Ethan’s path was filled with uncertainty and obstacles. His journey began in his high school.

Naomi’s story with Youth Villages started with the LifeSet program, but her journey to get there was anything but easy. She entered foster care at 4 years old and was adopted at 9.

When mentoring is mentioned, thoughts quickly go to being a friend or a buddy for a child or youth. Mentoring also conjures up images of playing board games, throwing a football or softball, going out to eat or doing arts and crafts.

Every year in the United States, only half of the number of children who enter the child welfare system are reunified with family. The goal of foster care is for families to be reunited after the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the well-being of the household.

Meet Ruby, a student at a local community college in Wilmington, North Carolina. She recently took a trip to Mexico to spend time with family, and she has plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in architecture at University of North Carolina-Charlotte after graduation.

The Holiday Heroes campaign has helped children and families in West Tennessee for nearly 20 years by connecting corporate and community volunteers to fulfill the holiday wish lists of local youth.

Studies show young people who have a positive adult figure in their life are less likely to drop out of school, have fewer run-ins with law enforcement and build better relationships with their biological family. This remains true for those entering college and young adulthood.