Foster360 Helps Young Adults Who Age out of Foster Care

Foster360 is “a nonprofit that provides housing, resources and trauma services for 18- to 24-year-olds aging out of the foster care system.”

“Elena Reid is a co-director of Foster360 who works one-on-one with residents. Healing from trauma is core to the program. ”

“Residents learn about meditation and breathing techniques to deal with stress, along with everyday basic skills including cooking and budgeting. ”

“Candice Liozu founded Foster360 in April 2018 after working as a business consultant for 20 years. She was mentoring the daughter of an incarcerated woman when she learned there was an issue with homelessness among foster youth aging out of the system. With so many resources available, she wondered why.

She eventually determined there was a lack of acknowledgment and treatment for trauma the young adults may have experienced in their young lives.”

“”Their behaviors are judged as disruptive when in reality it’s just trauma,” Liozu said.

Robert Rhoton is CEO of the Arizona Trauma Institute who consulted with Liozu. He’s a psychologist with 30 years of experience studying trauma’s effects on the brain and the body.

Many foster children encounter trauma early in life, which causes chronic stress, Rhoton said. Angry outbursts and impulsive behaviors are normal due to the constant stress. They are then expected to go to school, get along with others and behave without consideration of their trauma.

“We have a system that only preserves physical safety and doesn’t do anything to really help stabilize them psychologically or emotionally,” Rhoton said.

Said Liozu: “Their behaviors are judged as disruptive when in reality it’s just trauma.”

In the past, House said she was quick to erupt with anger and defensiveness. If it wasn’t for Foster360, she says, she would be in jail. Instead, she’s a high school senior who’ll graduate in spring 2023. House wants to become a singer and is interested in audio engineering.

“I feel amazing. I have accomplished so much this year. I never thought I could make it this far, and I am so proud of myself,” she said.”

Foster360’s goal? Help young adults aging out of foster care heal from trauma

[AZ Central 8/12/22 By Roxanne De La Rosa]

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