Why Every Young Person Aging Out of Foster Care Needs a Someone

I 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.

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.

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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.