The Challenge of Life After Foster Care
Every year, many teens in the foster care system turn 18 and are considered adults, forced to fend for themselves. Suddenly on their own, youth aging out of foster care are faced with the daunting challenges of finding a job, paying rent, and navigating everyday life with no support. Without the stability of family and a safe home life, what should feel like an exciting step into adulthood can feel like standing at the base of an unsurmountable uphill climb.
In Michigan, Holy Cross Services works every day to change that reality. Through our Compass Center in Saginaw, our staff provides guidance, job skills, and compassionate support that helps youth move from uncertainty to independence. Our work not only transforms individual lives but strengthens entire communities, breaking the cycle that often traps young people in a lifelong cycle of hardship.
The Reality for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
When teens age out of foster care services in Michigan, they don’t just pack up their things and move on. They lose the structure and safety that once kept them safe and steady. Overnight, the guidance, housing, and resources that once kept them afloat are taken away. Without that support, even simple things like finding employment or a safe place to live become serious hurdles.
According to The New Foster Care, the statistics are devastating:
- 7 in 10 report experiencing sexual abuse during or before entering foster care.
- 1 in 4 live with PTSD, which is twice the rate of war veterans.
- 1 in 2 don’t graduate high school.
- 1 in 2 are unemployed.
- 1 in 3 experience homelessness.
- 1 in 4 have been incarcerated.
- 1 in 4 become parents by age 21.
The numbers tell a story of pain and instability—but they also reveal something deeper: a system that ends support at the exact moment it’s needed most. When youth turn 18 and “age out,” they often lose access to housing, education assistance, and case management. For some, that means sleeping in cars, skipping meals, or turning to unsafe environments just to survive.
Without assistance, the cycle continues generation after generation.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
When young adults are left without direction, the impact doesn’t only impact to their own lives—it creates a ripple effect, impacting families, communities, and the entire economy in the state of Michigan.
Studies show the social cost of doing nothing is staggering:
- Each youth who ages out of foster care costs taxpayers and communities approximately $300,000 in lifetime social expenses, including welfare, incarceration, and healthcare.
- For Michigan alone, that adds up to $172 million annually.
- Half of the adult homeless population have spent time in foster care.
But, more importantly, beyond the numbers lies the human cost: lost potential, lost hope, and lost futures. Each young person who slips through the cracks represents a missed opportunity to build a brighter, stronger community.
That’s why foster care services in Michigan—especially those focused on young adults transitioning into independence—are so vital. Early intervention and continuing support can change the trajectory of a life. The Compass Center in South Saginaw is proof of that in action.
The Compass Center: A Place Where the Cycle Breaks
At the Compass Center in Saginaw, Holy Cross Services provides youth aging out of foster care with a safe, welcoming open-door environment to learn, grow, and thrive. The program is designed to meet each young adult where they are currently at emotionally, educationally, and socially while helping them build the skills they need for a stable future without judgment.
Participants will receive:
- Life skills training, from budgeting and cooking to time management and communication.
- Job readiness programs and apprenticeships in culinary arts and skilled trades.
- Education support, helping participants finish high school, earn diplomas, and apply to post-secondary institutions.
- Mentorship and emotional care, offering trusted adults who guide them through challenges.
For many, Compass becomes more than a program—it becomes a family that provides a sense of belonging. Staff with trauma-informed training walk beside participants as they find employment, secure housing, and reconnect with their own sense of purpose.
“Even when we act out, they don’t give up on us,” says Diamond. “Compass helps us rise above the statistics.”
Through compassion and structure, the Compass Center helps young people believe in themselves again. Each success story represents another life lifted out of the margins and into hope.
Real Lives, Real Change
Behind every number is a name, and behind every name is a story of resilience.
Walter: Finding Stability and a Future
After aging out of foster care in Michigan, Walter found himself unsure of where to go next. Through Holy Cross Services and the Compass Center, he secured the essentials, including food, housing, and mentorship, and began to rebuild his life. With staff support, he landed a job at Schomaker Farms, gained life skills, and began preparing for college at Saginaw Valley State University.
“Progress doesn’t come immediately,” Walter says, “but it’s worth it.”
Today, Walter is thriving, which is proof that with opportunity and encouragement, transformation is possible.
Diamond: From Struggling Teen to Confident Leader
When Diamond came to Holy Cross Services, she was seeking direction. Once labeled as having behavioral challenges, she instead discovered a community that saw her potential. Through mentoring and consistent care, Diamond grew into a leader—now serving as Vice President of the Youth Advisory Council, mentoring peers, finishing high school, and dreaming of careers in public speaking and science.
“Compass helps us rise above the statistics,” she says proudly. “Even when we act out, they don’t give up on us.”
Lee: Rising to Lead and Inspire Peers
Lee’s journey through foster care wasn’t easy. From lockdown facilities to leadership roles, his story is one of growth through grace. At the Compass Center, Lee found freedom, connection, and a sense of purpose. He now helps other foster care youth find their voice through advocacy and leadership within the Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
“You’re your biggest self-advocate,” Lee says. “Even at rock bottom, you can rise.”
Each of these young adults represents the result of that occurs when compassion meets opportunity. Their success is a direct reflection of what community support through Holy Cross Services can accomplish.
Hope That Multiplies
The impact of Holy Cross Services’ foster care programs doesn’t end with one individual. When a young adult finds stability, the ripple effect spreads—to their children, their peers, and their neighborhoods. Each life changed reduces future homelessness, incarceration, and poverty.
At the Compass Center, success looks like confidence, employment, graduation, independence, and belonging. But beyond that—it looks like hope. Hope that multiplies with each and every story of a youth who rises above the statistics.
How We Can All Help
The transition out of foster care in Michigan doesn’t have to be a story of loss; it can be one of resilience and renewal. But it takes all of us.
Here’s how you can help support foster care services in Michigan:
- Share the stories of youth aging out of foster care to raise awareness.
- Volunteer, mentor, or donate to programs like the Compass Center.
- Advocate for policies and funding that protect vulnerable young adults.
Every act of kindness counts, and every contribution helps to build a safer, stronger Michigan.
Learn more about how you can support foster care and youth transition programs Family Based Care and Youth Transition
A Legacy of Care Across Michigan
For decades, Holy Cross Services has provided foster care services in Michigan, along with housing support and community programs that uplift children, youth, and families across all 83 counties. From shelters and treatment centers to independent living and workforce development programs, Holy Cross is committed to helping people overcome challenges and build brighter futures.
When young adults like Walter, Diamond, and Lee succeed, it’s a victory for all of us—a testament to what’s possible when we invest in compassion, education, and opportunity.
Together, we can make sure every youth aging out of foster care finds not just stability, but purpose, connection, and a bright path forward.
