“It stops with me”. That’s exactly what Robert Carter chose to do. Check out Robert Carter’s Journey from Foster Child to Father of 5.
What an outstanding example of someone who chose to personally change outcomes! This father refused to let another suffer as he did. He also took in the complexity of need, including the children’s desire to be united with their siblings.
Treatment Foster Care with Impact
Treatment Foster Care can often mean taking in sibling groups, to help maintain familial bonds. Taking in a large family group can feel overwhelming, but the long-term benefits to the children in care are numerous. According to adoptuskids.org, “siblings placed together experience lower risk of failed placements, fewer moves, and many emotional benefits. Siblings placed together often feel more secure and are able to help each other adjust to their new family and community. Keeping siblings together can prevent a lifetime of longing and searching for lost brothers and sisters.”
Impact’s mission, desire, and drive is to come alongside individuals inspired to change outcomes. We want to demystify the foster care progress, walk alongside families making the life-changing choice to care for children in need, and provide support, resources, and care to everyone in the home and feel confident to say “it stops with me”.
Independent Living Services with Impact
For some youth, like the father in the video, turning 18 means navigating life on your own. When a young adult is aging out of Foster Care and does not have a home to go to, Independent Living Services (ILS) can change outcomes for youth. Impact is unique in that it provides for the physical needs of youth in the program and extensive emotional and relational support for youth to gain meaningful relationships with those who want to see them succeed and thrive!
To quote a current ILS participant: “One of the resources [in achieving my career goals] was to work so closely with [my Independent Living Site Supervisor]. I had a very close relationship with her. She was a friend as well as a worker I looked up to, so I had her there and the support to talk things through but also just knowing that if something were to happen, there was someone there if I didn’t know how to fill out a worksheet or even my [job] application!”.
Impact Living Services (ILS) provides comprehensive supportive services for 17 to 21-year-old foster youth. ILS has apartments in Lynchburg, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Richmond, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach.