Like many good stories, ours starts with two people, connected by a mission: to improve lives for young adults with lived experience in foster care. As young adults themselves, Jason and Rebekah were involved with serving teens in foster care, which kindled a passion in them both for this population. From there they served as foster parents, worked in group homes, and supported foster families through in-home services. As they watched their foster children enter independent living, it was clear that better services should be available for all kids exiting the foster care system in Virginia.

Thanks to their unique perspective, they identified several key factors for success for these young adults: building strong relationships with supportive adults, a welcoming home they could take pride in, celebrating progress, meeting tangible physical needs previously out of reach, access to recreational activities to spur personal growth, connection to resources and networks to better their situation, and finally - a roadmap of specific goals to keep them on a positive trajectory into adulthood.

Changing outcomes on a large scale requires every Fostering Acadia staff member to embody the values behind our services. Our FA professionals are passionate about enacting positive change for every individual we serve. And while equipping young adults to exceed their current expectations demands a dedicated team, it is best accomplished when the whole community takes an interest and gets involved.