Alumni Community Services is here for former foster youth

Written by Emma Rogers

Without support systems to rely on, young people aging out of foster care face immense barriers as they transition into adulthood. SAFE programs, like Supervised Independent Living and our Transitional Living Program, help address this by providing a pathway to self-sufficiency through educational, vocational, and employment goals.

“When I aged out of foster care, it was always ‘who’s going to help me’ or ‘where do I go.’ Just knowing that somebody would have been there for me, whether I needed it or not, would have been helpful.” — Angel Romero

But even with ample preparation for exiting the foster care system, “life happens,” says Angel Romero. Angel leads SAFE’s Alumni Community Services program, which serves as a drop-in center for former foster youth who just need a little extra support as they adjust to independent living.

“When I aged out of foster care, it was always ‘who’s going to help me’ or ‘where do I go,’” Angel said. “Just knowing that somebody would have been there for me, whether I needed it or not, would have been helpful.”

The formalized program provides assistance such as a food and hygiene pantry, help with job applications and resumes, referrals to off-site resources, help finding affordable housing, and much more. Unlike other similar programs for former foster youth, SAFE’s Alumni Community Services program does not have an age limit.

Angel’s goal for the program is help as many clients reach their goals as possible. Right now, the program is serving five clients consistently and expects to grow.

“They may not need the resources today or tomorrow or next year, but I just want them to know support is available.”