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.

Jailyn grew up in an unsafe and chaotic environment. She’d seen and experienced too much, and at 16, she had become a stranger to the concept of “home.”

Since 2008, the North Carolina Department of Social Services had been in and out of her life. There were reports, cases and interventions, but nothing worked.

Her home environment consisted of drugs, domestic violence and instability. School was hard enough, but on top of that, there was a very strict dress code. The only clothes she owned were sweatpants, which were not allowed.

What she wore was the least of her concerns –– surviving and getting her education were her priority. At one point, DSS removed her from her father’s custody and sent her to stay with her mother. Her mother worked on being sober but fell back into addiction after only three months of Jailyn living with her.

As she faced challenges in school, Jailyn grew close to her school administrator, Mrs. West. One day, as students were being pulled into the office for breaking dress code, Jailyn told Mrs. West “This was all I had to wear to school today, and I’m here because all I want is my education.”

Mrs. West made a deal with Jailyn, she would let her remain in her office rather than being sent home from school, but only if she agreed to do her schoolwork during that time.

During a snowstorm in 2022, things came to a head between Jailyn and her mother, who kicked her out of her home. There was only one avenue left for her to take: the foster care system.

Jailyn feared entering the foster care system, so she prepared to do what she always did, which was run. Running away was a common occurrence for her. Staying in hotels, jumping from house to house – anywhere that was safer than home. But by the time DSS came around again, Jailyn had exhausted every option.

She explained her circumstances to Mrs. West, who talked Jailyn out of running and instead into coming home with her. Despite being distrustful of every adult around her, Jailyn took a chance and agreed. The first few months were incredibly hard for Jailyn.

“I stayed in my room a lot,” Jailyn said. “I didn’t want to be ‘saved’ or viewed as a ‘rescue puppy.’ There were still pieces of love and happy memories, mixed in with the pain of my childhood.”

Mrs. West and her family were patient. They didn’t push her. They let her know, every day, the door was open whenever she was ready.

Mrs. West believed that Jailyn needed a stable environment and support. Without hesitation, the West family stepped in to help Jailyn in every way possible. At the same time, they began the process of officially becoming her foster parents.

Even though her foster family was wonderful, Jailyn needed more than just a roof over her head. She needed support, guidance and to stand on her own two feet.

That’s when Jailyn’s social worker connected her with Youth Villages’ LifeSet program. She didn’t realize it at first, but the program would change everything. It wasn’t just a means for youth in foster care to get support — it was a bridge to something more: independence.

“At the end of the day, foster youth need extra [support],” Jailyn said.

Jailyn met Doria, her LifeSet specialist, someone who didn’t just give her advice but understood her. Doria’s life experiences mirrored Jailyn’s, which helped build a relationship of trust between them.

Now a LifeSet Scholar, studying baking and pastry arts at Johnson & Wales University, Jailyn is pursuing her love for cooking.

“My love for cooking stems from my dad,” Jailyn said. “Through the midst of all the craziness growing up, one thing we could all do as a family was get in the kitchen and cook together.”

Jailyn is proof that with the right support system, youth who experienced foster care can break cycles, overcome adversity and build a future. With guidance of her foster family and Youth Villages, she is no longer just surviving – she is thriving.

Jailyn’s story is a testament to the power of showing up for those in need. Through the efforts of programs like LifeSet and the unwavering love of those who became her family, Jailyn has built a foundation for a future filled with possibilities.

About Youth Villages – North Carolina
In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, our North Carolina services focus on strengthening families to prevent or reduce the need for out-of-home placements (Intercept, MST, and High Fidelity Wraparound) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they transition to adulthood (LifeSet).

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