STATEMENT OF NEED

Most youth who leave the foster care system do not receive adequate preparation and support for their transition to independent living. Compared to other youth, foster youth are more likely to be homeless, incarcerated, unemployed and unskilled.  They are also more likely to experience physical, developmental, behavioral and mental health challenges. 

With respect to gender, female foster youth are characteristically more wounded, deprived, and heavily laden with emotional scars that affect their bodies, behavior, and worldview. Their life experiences have left them suffering from severe anxiety, depression, health, nutrition, and low self-esteem. Ironically, just as young women reach the most vulnerable period of their lives, they are cut off from most services. Transitioning out of foster care adds an additional layer of complexity into their lives just as they are trying to make the expected transitions out of adolescence to adulthood. These are not simple processes. They include questions of survival—housing, food, health care, education, transportation, safety and income. Without these anchors in place, young people are vulnerable to homelessness, illness, crime and other defeating circumstances.

In response to these challenges, the HerShe Group is meeting the needs of youth in foster care by promoting stable, permanent connections to caring adults; assisting youth with the management of their physical and mental health needs; providing opportunities for youth to engage in the performing arts; supporting economic success through education and career exposure; providing life skills training to help youth navigate the adult world; and improving access to stable and safe housing.