When their daughter, Jordan, began her career at Youth Villages, Kathy and Chuck Candler saw firsthand the impact of our work and the care we show our team.
Blog Articles
Finding her thread: Nicky gains independence and financial stability
Unlike their peers, many young people who have foster care often lack basic financial literacy skills. While some of these skills are taught in school or other programs, many former foster youth missed out on learning skills such as budgeting, opening bank accounts or filing taxes.
2025 Red Kite Nite
On May 1, the Youth Villages community gathered in Boston for Red Kite Nite, the annual gala supporting the LifeSet program. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this year’s event raised more than $850,000, helping bring LifeSet to every young adult who needs it.
A foster youth’s rise: Aidan’s journey to stability
Aidan is a student at North Carolina State University with a clear vision for his future. He’s balancing school, work and preparing for life after graduation. On the surface, it’s a typical college experience. But Aidan’s path to this point has been anything but typical.
Tennessee bill to extend foster care benefits to adults 18 to 23 unanimously passes House, Senate
A Tennessee bill with bipartisan support could give more young adults who have aged out of the foster care system the safety net they need, longer. The bill, which comes from Gov. Bill Lee’s administration, would increase the qualifying age to receive benefits under the Extension of Foster Care program from 18 to 21 years old, to 18 to 23 years old.
Knoxville Couple recognized as rookie foster parents of the year
Knoxville couple is being recognized for the way they’ve stepped up, just months after entering the world of foster care.
Woman aging out of foster care finds success
Alina Brooks is one of nearly 60 foster children who’ve lived with the Flowers family in East Knoxville.
‘We enjoy it; it’s awesome’ – East Knoxville couple opens home to dozens of foster kids
Across Tennessee, families are stepping up to provide safe, loving homes for children in need.In East Knoxville, Benjamin and Shamiyah Flowers have turned fostering into a way of life.
From foster care to social work: Aaraya’s journey of resilience and purpose
Aaraya is a proud social worker and graduate of Western Carolina University. However, as a youth who experienced foster care, Aaraya’s journey was anything but easy. She endured hardships and struggles faced by many young people navigating the child welfare system.
Georgia Peer-to-Peer LifeSet event focuses on real world and real estate
Speaking to a group of young adults in Youth Villages Georgia’s LifeSet program, Atlanta-area Realtor Meka Wilson tossed out little bags of M&Ms to each youth that participated in the discussion.