On the eve of her 21st birthday, a young woman leaving the local Howard County foster care system after nine placements/homes was welcomed to her first apartment by eight local residents and two truckloads of used but sturdy furniture. Her housewarming was courtesy of Fostering Futures: An initiative of Voices for Children, Howard County's court-appointed special advocates.
Fostering Futures Howard County seeks to develop a community network using the internet and other means to support youth aging out of foster care. Each month members of the network will receive a simple message asking if they can help: by donating and moving furniture, assisting with a college application, or whatever may be needed. Everything is completely voluntary. The needs assessments are developed collaboratively between Fostering Futures/Voices for Children and the Howard County Department of Social Services.
