Extreme weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires can often leave people with feelings of uncertainty and fear. Children can be deeply affected by these experiences.

Extreme weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires can often leave people with feelings of uncertainty and fear. Children can be deeply affected by these experiences.
Shavonda’s daughter, Amiyah, had been in and out of residential facilities since she was 13 years old. Amiyah faced serious challenges like running away and getting into unsafe situations that eventually led to involvement with the juvenile justice system
For many families, balancing excessive stress and maintaining a stable home environment for children may require extra support. Intercept, a program of Youth Villages.
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month—a time to recognize the resilience of children and youth in the foster care system and the individuals who support them. At Youth Villages, we understand the unique challenges these young people face.
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.
Life challenges might cause a bump in the road for most families. But for others, trials can result in major upheavals in their lives. Jeremy and his grandmother, Patricia, faced the latter when they were involved in a life-changing situation — one that led to their living apart from one another.
After his mom died when he was 14 years old, Isaiah and his brother entered the care of their grandmother. Sadly, their grandmother died soon after, leading them to be placed in the foster care system.
Five young adults who aged out of foster care at 18 years old vulnerably shared their experience transitioning to adulthood after spending most of their childhood in state custody.
For Makia, the path from foster care to adulthood was filled with roadblocks. At 12 years old, Makia entered the child welfare system and moved between different foster homes, never quite finding stability and guidance.
Thousands of children experience out-of-home placements in North Carolina, and sometimes, finding a forever home isn’t an option before they age out of the system. Programs like LifeSet help young adults who experience foster care establish independence.