Devin finds independence with LifeSet
At 20 years old, Devin now feels confident about the future he is building and has strong faith in his direction.
Growing up, he spent time in foster homes and under the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Devin spent much of his teenage years without consistent guidance. From ages 16 to 18, he had a formal mentor, but once that support ended, he found himself navigating adulthood alone.
When new responsibilities began piling up, Devin felt unprepared. A DCF worker recognized his need for continued guidance and referred him to the Youth Villages LifeSet program.
“I found a lot of what comes with adulthood, like managing money, getting a job, finding a car and signing up for college, overwhelming at first,” Devin said. “I didn’t know where to start.”
Devin eventually connected with his LifeSet specialist, Isaac, who helped him learn the life skills many young adults take for granted. Together, they worked through practical challenges such as understanding credit scores, saving money, budgeting and finding additional employment. Just weeks before the semester started, Devin was dropped from his college classes due to financial issues. With support from Isaac and LifeSet, he re-enrolled and is attending a local community college, where he is studying visual art design.
He has really grown a lot. He is really motivated to get what he needs to get done. He has a vision for his life and is learning how to make that happen for himself.
Devin dreams of becoming a video game designer. He is already building his own game and hopes to continue his education at a four-year institution in video game and animation design. Thanks to his time in LifeSet, he has gained a deeper understanding of how life works, from managing finances to balancing academic expectations, and feels more prepared than ever before.
“Before, I didn’t understand how credit or finances worked,” Devin shared. “Now, I’m on top of it. I know what I need to do.”
Devin currently lives in a foster home where he was welcomed and embraced as part of the family. Isaac describes Devin as resilient, motivated and eager to build a better future for himself.
“The drive was always there,” Isaac said. “He just needed someone to help him unlock it.”Today, Devin is more confident, informed and hopeful about what lies ahead. With continued support from Youth Villages, he is learning not just how to survive adulthood, but also how to thrive.
About Youth Villages – New England
In collaboration with state child welfare agencies and juvenile justice systems, our services in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island focus on strengthening families to prevent or limit the need for foster care (Intercept) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they enter adulthood (LifeSet).
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