<![CDATA[BRIGHTSIDE ADVOCACY - BLOG]]>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:40:25 -0400EditMySite<![CDATA[Self-Care Is More Than a Bubble Bath]]>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 19:19:28 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/self-care-is-more-than-a-bubble-bath
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Let’s talk about self-care. Not the Pinterest version with the candles and the bubble bath. (If that works for you, teach me your ways. My water goes cold in ten minutes and I never quite fit in the tub.) You can’t bubble-bath your way out of a week of long hearings, unreturned calls, and a case that took three steps backward.

Real self-care is smaller and quieter, and it matters, because burnout is common in social service work. 

For me, it starts with the drive home. I save Song Exploder for that commute. It’s my buffer between “work me” and “home me,” and by the time I pull into the driveway, I’ve spent a few minutes on something that has nothing to do with court reports.

It’s leaving work at work. I close the laptop when I said I would, skip the 9 p.m. email check, and silence my phone so I can be present with my family. The kids I advocate for are better served by a rested me, and the cases will still be there tomorrow.

It’s setting boundaries without apologizing. “I’ll handle that first thing tomorrow” is a complete sentence. So is “I’m not available this weekend.” Saying no isn’t failing anyone. It’s how you stay in this work long enough to keep showing up.

It’s having fun, too. Catch a Front Porch Improv show (a fantastic Brightside partner that supports our fundraising, and we love them for it) or a concert at Victory North. Step out of work mode and reconnect with your own life.

It’s the person who will sit with you and say, “Yeah. That was a rough one.” No fixing, no silver linings. Shout out to everyone in the office who listens, and a big one to Mandy and Marquise, whose offices are on either side of mine and share the brunt of my offload. Y’all pray for them!

And sometimes it’s a professional, and there’s no shame in that. A counselor like the team at Hugs Counseling can be a great first step.

Here’s what I’ve learned, and am still learning: self-care isn’t a reward for surviving the hard days. It’s the fuel that gets you through them. Nobody pours from an empty cup, and nobody earns a gold star for running themselves into the ground. The kids don’t need an exhausted martyr. They need someone who’s still standing next year.
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Curious about this work? Watch our CASA info session and see how you can become a voice for a child in our community.

About the Author

Jamie Kiser
Jamie is an Advocacy Coordinator for Savannah CASA. She is a lovely addition to our team and we are so grateful to have her advocating for the needs of our children experiencing foster care. ​
]]><![CDATA[Want to Help a Child in Foster Care? Here Are 5 Ways to Show Up]]>Sat, 26 Sep 2026 15:33:24 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/want-to-help-a-child-in-foster-care-here-are-5-ways-to-show-upMy parents were foster parents, so my brother and I grew up welcoming children into our home—children carrying stories and experiences far beyond what we could fully understand.

Grace (name changed to protect identity) was one of them.

She came from a single-parent home where substance use had created instability. She was missing school and often didn't have much to come home to.

Then she came to us.

My parents couldn't erase what Grace had experienced. But they could give her something different: stability, consistency, and the chance to simply be a kid. New clothes. New shoes. A safe place to sleep. Someone making sure she got to school. Someone celebrating her better grades. Someone reminding her that where she came from didn't have to determine where she was going.

And while Grace was with us, her mom was working toward recovery. Slowly, things began to change.

Visits became possible. Their relationship began to heal. And eventually, Grace went home.
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For a while, things were looking up. Then, a few years later, substance use returned to their lives. Grace lost her mom, and her world was turned upside down once again. But Grace wasn't alone.
Someone in her family stepped forward. Someone showed up when she needed them. Someone helped her navigate her teenage years and eventually find her way into adulthood.

Grace had a someone.

Her story is a reminder that showing up doesn't always mean changing someone's circumstances. Sometimes, it means being the person who stays when circumstances change. And Grace's story is just one story.

In Georgia, 14,406 children came through the foster care system during state fiscal year 2025.
Source: Georgia CASA

Behind every number is a child who deserves someone in their corner. So, what can you do?

Start here.
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​1. Be an Advocate

You don't have to be a lawyer, social worker, or child welfare professional to advocate for a child.

You can become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

CASA volunteers are trained community members appointed to advocate for children involved in the juvenile court system. They get to know the child, gather information from the people involved in their life, and advocate for what is in the child's best interest.

And perhaps most importantly, they become a consistent adult in a child's life.

In Georgia, 2,541 CASA volunteers served 7,831 children in FY2026, according to Georgia CASA. That's thousands of children with someone showing up for them. But there are still children who need an advocate.

You could be that someone.
[Learn about becoming a CASA volunteer →]

​Source: Georgia CASA
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​2. Become a Mentor or Caring Adult

What happens when a young person leaves foster care and suddenly has to navigate adulthood on their own?

Finding a job. Managing money. Figuring out school or career goals. Finding housing. Making big decisions. Building a life.

For many young people, these are things they have to navigate while also figuring out what comes next—and having a caring, consistent adult in their corner can make a meaningful difference. That's where mentors and caring adults come in.

You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to be an expert in everything from budgeting to career planning. You can simply be someone who listens, encourages, shares what you've learned, helps work through a challenge, and celebrates the wins.

At Brightside, Brighter Futures connects young people ages 16–25 who are transitioning from foster care with caring adult mentors who support them as they work toward their goals and independence. Because adulthood shouldn't mean suddenly having to figure everything out alone.

Sometimes, the most meaningful thing you can give a young person is someone they know they can call.
[Learn about becoming a Brighter Futures Mentor →]
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3. ​Learn Before You Assume

If you want to help children and families, start by understanding what they're actually experiencing. Foster care is not one-size-fits-all.

Children enter care for different reasons. Families have different circumstances. And the goal isn't always adoption. Georgia DFCS works with families toward addressing safety concerns and, when possible and safe, reunification. The agency also considers kinship care when identifying placement options.

Understanding the difference between foster care, kinship care, reunification, adoption, and family preservation can change the way you talk about—and support—children and families.

Before you share an assumption, share a statistic.

Before you judge a family, learn more about what they're facing.
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Being someone starts with being willing to understand.
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4. ​Give What You Can

As we enter the holiday season, they have a way of reminding us how good it feels to give. But giving doesn't always mean buying something or writing a check. Sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are your time, your voice, or your willingness to help.

Maybe you give your time by volunteering with Brightside on a community project or helping with a special event. Maybe you share Brightside's work with your friends, family, coworkers, or social media followers so more people understand what children and families in our community need.

Maybe you give financially through the Georgia Fostering Success Act, you can redirect Georgia income tax you already owe to directly support young people transitioning out of foster care as they work toward adulthood and independence.

Your gift doesn't have to look like someone else's. It just has to come from a willingness to help.

Give your time.
Give your voice.
Give what you can.

Want to learn more about how you can give through the Georgia Fostering Success Act?
→ [Learn More About the Fostering Success Act]

And if you're looking for another way to give this season, ask us what we need. There may be a volunteer opportunity, project, in-kind need, or way to spread the word that fits what you have to offer.

Because giving isn't about having the most to give. It's about choosing to give something.
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5. ​Show Up—and Keep Showing Up

Showing up doesn't always look like a big gesture.

Sometimes, it looks like checking in. Listening. Remembering. Encouraging. Answering the phone. Keeping a promise. And sometimes, it means showing up again when things get hard.

Children and families don't just need people who care when everything is going well. They need people who are willing to stay present through the changes, challenges, and unexpected turns.

Grace had people who showed up for different chapters of her life. My parents showed up when she needed a safe place to land. Her mom worked to show up for her. And later, when Grace lost her mom, someone else in her family stepped forward and continued showing up as she navigated her teenage years and adulthood.

Someone got her through one chapter. Someone else helped her through the next.

That's the power of showing up.

You may not be able to change someone's circumstances. You may not have all the answers. But you can be the person who answers the call, keeps a promise, celebrates a milestone, or simply lets someone know they don't have to navigate it alone.

Show up. And then, keep showing up.
You don't have to do everything. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to start somewhere.

Give your time. Give what you can. Learn. Listen. Show up.

Because every child deserves someone in their corner.

Someone got you here. Now, you can be that someone.

Sources & Additional Information

Georgia CASA - Child Welfare Statistics
​Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) - Foster Care in Georgia

About the Author

Alexis Belvin
Alexis is the Development Coordinator at Brightside, supporting fundraising, communications, and community engagement. We are grateful to have her bringing her creativity and passion to our mission of creating brighter futures for children and youth experiencing foster care.
]]><![CDATA[Why Every Young Person Aging Out of Foster Care Needs a Someone]]>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:54:42 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/why-every-young-person-aging-out-of-foster-care-needs-a-someoneI didn't get to where I am today alone.

I graduated from college in 2023, but when I think about that accomplishment, I think about my parents. When I moved into college as a freshman, they helped me get settled. Throughout my first semester, they practically showed up every month to help me navigate a completely new chapter of life. They were there throughout college, at graduation, and even as I continued into graduate school.
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Their support didn't make me less independent. It helped me become independent.

They were my somebodies — the people who showed up, encouraged me, helped me figure things out and made sure I knew I wasn't alone.
College graduate with her parents at graduation, reflecting the importance of having a support system while transitioning into adulthood.
But what happens when you don't have a someone?

Think about your own life. Who helped you when you didn't know what to do? Who answered the phone when you needed advice? Who helped you navigate your first big transition into adulthood? Who showed up when things didn't go as planned?

For many of us, there is a person — or maybe several people — we can name. But for young people aging out of foster care, that built-in support system may not exist.

And this isn't just a national issue. It's happening here in Georgia.
At 18, young people are expected to begin navigating many of the same challenges as their peers: finding housing, pursuing education, entering the workforce, managing money and making major decisions about their futures. But most of us didn't learn how to do those things overnight. We had someone to teach us.
Source: Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services; Georgia Public Broadcasting.
I know that because I experienced it myself. My parents didn't earn my degree for me. They didn't make my decisions for me. But they gave me the support and foundation I needed to make those decisions for myself.

They were my somebodies.

That's the heart of Brightside's #SomeoneGotMeHere campaign: recognizing the people who helped us get where we are and asking who will be there for young people who don't have that same support system. For Georgia taxpayers, the Fostering Success Act (FSA) offers a meaningful way to be someone's someone. By redirecting eligible Georgia state tax dollars to Brightside, you can help provide the support, resources and connections a young person aging out of foster care needs to take their next step. Your tax dollars can become someone's support system. 

To learn more about why that support matters, hear directly from Kate in her TEDx Savannah talk, where she explores what happens when young people age out of foster care without the support system many of us take for granted. Turning 18 doesn't suddenly mean you're ready to navigate adulthood alone.

​We all need a someone.

About the Author

Alexis Belvin
Alexis is the Development Coordinator at Brightside, supporting fundraising, communications, and community engagement. We are grateful to have her bringing her creativity and passion to our mission of creating brighter futures for children and young adults experiencing foster care.
]]><![CDATA[Little Sparks]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:15:01 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/little-sparks
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We've all witnessed the effects of funding cuts and staff shortages in the child welfare system. Families in our cases aren't getting the timely services they need, and visitation has become limited... when it happens at all. Let's be honest: some days it feels like we're all just standing around a dumpster fire, wondering who's going to bring the marshmallows.

It would be easy to let that discourage us. But here's what I want to remind you: even in the hardest seasons, you are still making a difference. Every single day.

Take a moment and think of one thing you've done that made a real difference, no matter how small. Something that still gives you that warm, tingly feeling in your heart when you think about it. I bet you can name more than one.
I'll go first. One of the kiddos in one of my cases loves to skateboard. He let me know he'd broken his skateboard and wanted another one; luckily, we had one in the office. I dropped it off to him while he was visiting his grandmother, and she told me she'd never seen him smile like that when someone came to the house. It was just a small thing that didn't move the case forward; it didn't give that child permanency, but it gave him a moment when he genuinely smiled.

That's the weight of what I was able to do, and it's the same weight behind whatever you just thought of.

It's easy to lose sight of these sparks when we're staring into the dumpster fire of everything we wish were different. But every small thing, a case that moves forward, a parent who grows a little more capable, a kid who has one easier moment because of you, is a spark. And sparks catch.
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So the next time the system feels like it's actively trying to burn itself down, remember your sparks. Let them fuel you toward the next one. Because those sparks are already adding up into something bigger than any single hard day. Into a fire of good, one we started on purpose, burning bright enough to outshine the dumpster fire around us.

About the Author



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​Jamie Kiser
Jamie is an Advocacy Coordinator for Savannah CASA. She is a lovely addition to our team and we are so grateful to have her advocating for the needs of our children experiencing foster care. 
]]><![CDATA[My Journey From a Protected Past to a Purpose-Driven Present]]>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:29:25 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/my-journey-from-a-protected-past-to-a-purpose-driven-present
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I grew up in a small town outside of Philadelphia. So small that my public high school graduating class was considered large with 63 students.  We had such freedom back then.  I cannot remember a single time when I couldn’t leave the house on my own and go wherever I wanted.  None of us felt excited about our independence - it was expected.  

Fast forward to raising my own 3 sons in a CT community near Yale University where in every other home was a doctor or professor.  Definitely more protective parenting, but still lots of freedom for a young person growing up.  It was the norm for every kid to get a car when they earned a license. They drove to school, sports, parties - pretty much anywhere as long as they let their parents know (most times, anyway). They still experienced freedoms, even though all of the parents thought we were being relatively strict.

When I retired to Savannah, I found that I missed the routine of a work day.  I needed something more than attending 2 yoga classes each day.  The lack of routine was difficult.  One day, a woman on the next mat told me that she had just been appointed as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). It was EXACTLY what I was looking for! I had spent most of my career working with children.  I had volunteered at different times in my life for charitable events.  I felt like being a CASA would be an easy transition - how different could it be??? They are just kids afterall.

So what did I learn that was different? A child in foster care experiences ZERO control over their own life.  They are removed from their home by strangers.  If lucky enough to find a placement quickly, they move into a house or group home with more strangers. They are now sent to a different school full of strangers.  They are introduced to their Case Manager. Stranger. Lawyer. Stranger. The state and the foster parent take their role seriously but this means no real freedoms for the children. They are required to be accountable for the child at ALL times.  There is no riding off on your bike to friends like I did when I was a kid.  No one is rewarding them with a car for getting their license. The majority don’t have any ID, nevermind having an opportunity to get a license. Most don’t stay in the same foster home. By the time they are eligible to ‘age’ out of care at 18, they have been in 10 to 20 different foster homes.  Each time starting over with that same cycle of strangers. Then they may be released from foster care. Can we then expect them to know how to be successfully independent? The system made all of their decisions for them. You can imagine what could happen to their life after that. Most become homeless, incarcerated or trafficked. 


Can you imagine how frightening this must be? How would your own children or grandchildren handle this? So. Much. Trauma.  Quietly and patiently, a CASA volunteer enters this child’s life not long after entering the foster system.  They become someone that is reliable because the child’s best interest is all that the CASA volunteer is focused on.  They want the child to know that they DO have a voice - A CASA can make sure that voice is heard. In court. In school, we can let a  therapist know recent struggles so the child has an option to discuss - if THEY choose. A CASA can give them some sense of security. Sometimes on a visit, we won’t talk much.  Maybe just play cards - but these kids know that you are there FOR THEM. 

Becoming a CASA volunteer has changed my life in so many wonderful ways.  I am definitely more aware and not as sheltered from reality.  I am a much less judgemental person because now I know the stories that have caused generational poverty and neglect.  In fact, my role as a volunteer has brought me to the decision to help more than just my own CASA case.  I started working for Brightside in Development over 2 years ago. Now I am trying to change the future of more than 300 children by raising funds to support and increase the programming that is so vital to their future success. I encourage you to try to make an impact too.  Volunteer, spread awareness of our mission, or donate.  Call Brightside and ask for me.  I will be happy to guide you to the best path for you.

About the Author




Terry Wright
Terry joined the Brightside family in 2021 and now serves as our Director of Development. She brings heart, leadership, and commitment to everything she does. We are honored to have her passion and expertise on our team.
]]><![CDATA[Uplifting Youth in Foster Care]]>Sun, 10 May 2026 17:41:18 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/uplifting-youth-in-foster-care
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​May is a time of renewal, growth, and reflection—making it especially meaningful as we recognize National Foster Care Awareness Month. Across the country, thousands of young people are navigating life in foster care, each with their own story, resilience, and potential. This month invites us ALL not only to raise awareness, but to take meaningful steps toward supporting and empowering these youth.


Understanding the Experience
Youth in foster care often face significant challenges, including instability, disrupted education, and emotional stress. Many move between multiple homes, schools, and communities, making it difficult to build lasting relationships and a sense of belonging. Despite these obstacles, foster youth continue to demonstrate incredible strength and perseverance.
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Why YOUR  Support Matters
Consistent, caring adults can make a life-changing difference. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or simply showing up, supportive relationships help foster youth build confidence and envision brighter futures. Access to education, mental health resources, and life skills training also plays a critical role in helping them transition successfully into adulthood.


How You Can Make an Impact?
There are many ways to get involved this month and beyond:
Looking Ahead
Every young person deserves stability, support, and the opportunity to thrive. This May, let’s commit to being part of the solution—whether through small acts of kindness or larger commitments to change. Together, we can help ensure that youth in foster care feel seen, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.
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About the Author

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​Dr. Zelonia Williams
Zelonia joined the Brightside family in 2024 as the Brighter Futures Program Director. She is a phenomenal community leader and educator. We are honored to have her experience and expertise. 
]]><![CDATA[Education as a Lifeline: Supporting Youth Aging Out of Care]]>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:18:35 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/education-as-a-lifeline-supporting-youth-aging-out-of-care
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For those who know me personally, you may recall my college days—long hours spent studying, writing, and pushing myself to grow academically. While some might have seen this dedication as “try-hard,” the reality is that I have always loved learning. I value education deeply, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience college and all that it offered.
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Education shapes more than knowledge; it shapes character. It exposes us to new ideas, challenges us to consider different perspectives, and teaches us the value of hard work and perseverance. These experiences, which many of us take for granted, are not universal. Youth in foster care often face a complex web of challenges—including frequent moves, disrupted schooling, and limited access to resources—resulting in inconsistent, limited, or sometimes entirely denied educational opportunities.

These barriers can make pursuing an education feel daunting, if not impossible, and can leave young people without the stability and guidance they need to reach their full potential. Yet education has the power to be truly transformative. It opens the doors to new opportunities, fosters critical thinking, and helps youth envision and build a future beyond the circumstances they were born into. 

I’ll never forget hearing a young person express their frustration: “I could have gone to school if it weren’t for this.” Their words were a humbling reminder of the privileges many of us take for granted—and a call to action to ensure that no young person is held back from learning because of circumstances beyond their control.

Organizations like Brightside, together with supportive communities, can make education not just a possibility, but a pathway to empowerment. By connecting youth with mentorship, tutoring, scholarships, and career guidance, and by fostering networks of support, we can help them gain the tools and resilience they need to thrive. Each of us has a role to play—whether through volunteering, advocacy, or simply offering encouragement—to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to build a brighter future.

This work is a constant reminder of the progress still to be made. As the weather warms and students celebrate the close of their semesters, let us not forget those who dream of pursuing education but face obstacles that make that goal feel out of reach. By coming together as a community, we can rewrite the narratives for young people aging out of foster care.
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About the Author
Anna Hunger
Anna is our wonderful Administrative Assistant at Brightside. With a passion for education and helping others, she has been an incredible addition to our team. 
]]><![CDATA[A Heartfelt "Thank You"]]>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:14:41 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/a-heartfelt-thank-you
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​For several years, I have worked behind the scenes helping to raise money and awareness to support Brightside Child & Family Advocacy’s (“Brightside”) mission and vision as a board member and now the current board chair. The funds raised provide stability, hope, and opportunity for Savannah’s most vulnerable children—but the money is only the beginning.


Without Brightside’s caring, passionate staff and CASAs, children and families immersed in the foster care system could easily be overlooked and overwhelmed. Brightside’s staff and CASAs are embedded within Savannah’s child welfare community, and are continuously identifying systemic inefficiencies and unmet needs. Then, through research, creativity, and collaboration—including partnerships with Chatham County’s Juvenile Court Judges—they develop meaningful, practical solutions.


Unwavering as the voice for children navigating the foster care judicial system, Brightside has also created innovative programs that provide essential support such as transportation, supervised visitation, life-skills training, clothing closets, holiday wishes, mental health services, college preparation, sport/club equipment, and multiple others. These efforts foster confidence, belonging, and resilience while strengthening foster children and families as well as other community/governmental organizations.
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Brightside staff and CASAs never stop dreaming of new ways to serve children and families in foster care, and every donation helps them not just survive but to thrive and build brighter futures. That is just one reason, why I continue to volunteer and support Brightside Child & Family Advocacy.


A heartfelt "Thank you" to ALL Brightside Staff, CASAs, and volunteers! Because of you, children feel seen, supported, and valued. Your dedication changes lives every single day, and our community is stronger because of you.
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About the Author
Kathy Ledvina
Kathy Ledvina is the Board Chair for Brightside Advocacy Child and Family Advocacy. We are grateful for her leadership. For years, she has advocated for children in foster care. Our team is so fortunate to have her. 
]]><![CDATA[A Season of Giving, a Lifetime of Impact]]>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 07:42:00 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/a-season-of-giving-a-lifetime-of-impact
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This holiday season, our community came together in a way that still takes my breath away.

445 wish lists were fulfilled. 🎁
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Each one represents a child in Chatham County who has experienced abuse/neglect, or foster care. Each list tells a small piece of a much bigger story—one of resilience, hope, and the simple value of humans’ need to be seen.
One child’s wish list stopped me in my tracks. It didn’t ask for a toy, clothes, or electronics. It simply said: “A family is all I want.”

Moments like that remind me that while gifts matter, what these children truly long for is connection, safety, and love.

Every year, I’m amazed all over again by the generosity of our donors. Watching the process unfold never gets old—seeing wish lists claimed, gifts arriving one by one, the stacks growing higher and higher. To an outsider, it may just look like boxes and bags. But to us, every gift represents a child who won’t be forgotten this holiday season.

I’ve had the privilege of watching foster youth open their gifts before, and that moment stays with you forever. One child in particular got a Stanley Cup, and as soon as she opened it, she started crying, saying that she never thought someone would listen to her list. It’s never really about what’s inside the box. It’s about the pause, the wide eyes, the tears, the quiet smile—the realization that someone who doesn’t even know them still cared enough to listen to their wants. To show up. To say, you matter.

That single act of kindness speaks volumes. It tells a child they are worthy. That they are seen. That even in the midst of hard and painful chapters, there is goodness in the world meant just for them.
This is why this work matters. It’s a reminder that kindness still wins. That compassion still shows up. That hope can exist alongside the hardest stories.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your generosity makes a difference—please know that it absolutely does. These children feel it. They remember it.

And honestly? So do I—every single year.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of something so meaningful this holiday season. 💙

About the Author
​Mandy Roberts is the Advocacy Director for Brightside Advocacy's Savannah CASA. Mandy has been with the organization since 2015. Prior to her role at Brightside, she was a Case Manager at the Division of Family and Children Services. She has her Bachelors in Social Work from Middle Tennessee State University. When she isn't supporting her team and volunteers, she can be found walking with her fur baby, Braylee or enjoying a beach.
]]><![CDATA[Why Mentorship Matters: How One Caring Adult Can Change Everything]]>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:06:53 GMThttps://www.brightsideadvocacy.org/blog/why-mentorship-matters-how-one-caring-adult-can-change-everythingAt Brightside Advocacy’s Brighter Futures Program, we see it every day: when a young person has even one committed, caring adult in their corner, the path ahead of them begins to look different. More hopeful. More possible. More theirs.

Mentorship isn’t about having all the answers or being perfect. It’s about showing up. It’s about being that steady, reliable presence who listens, encourages, and helps a young person imagine who they can become. And for youth facing challenges—whether systemic, emotional, or environmental—that kind of support can be life-changing.

Research backs up what we witness firsthand. When young people have mentors, they are more likely to stay engaged in school, build confidence, develop healthier coping skills, and make decisions that guide them toward stable, successful adulthood. They’re less likely to feel alone, overwhelmed, or unseen. A mentor becomes a safe space—a reminder that they matter, that their voice counts, and that someone believes in their potential.

What makes the difference isn’t a mentor’s expertise; it’s the relationship. Mentorship works because it offers something so many young people desperately need: trust. When a young person realizes that a mentor genuinely cares—consistently, compassionately, without judgment—they begin to open up. They begin to grow. They begin to dream bigger dreams.

Mentors help young people navigate challenges that range from planning for the future to supporting tasks that lead to achieving independence. They cheer for their victories and guide them through their setbacks. They model what healthy relationships look like, what resilience feels like, and how to keep moving forward even when life gets complicated. Over time, the young people we work with start to see themselves differently. They start to see that they are capable. 

At Brighter Futures, we believe every young person should have the chance to be truly supported. But that kind of transformation can only happen through people willing to step into that role—people who want to make a difference not through grand gestures, but through consistent, caring presence.
If you feel a tug toward this kind of impact, we’d love to share more about what mentoring looks like and how you can become part of this work. 

Learn more about becoming a mentor here: www.brightsideadvocacy.org/bfmentor

​Maggie Smith is an Advocacy Coordinator for Savannah CASA. Maggie joined the team in 2018 and is the Youth Experience & Impact Manager for the Brighter Futures Team. Maggie is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor's in Child and Family Development. She also minored in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies.
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