S3/Ep 12: When Foster Kids Turn 18, the System Abandons Them. So What Happens Next?
Guardians of Hope: Empowering Child Advocacy
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Show Notes
Over 328,000 children are currently in the U.S. foster care system. In 2024 alone, more than 15,000 youth aged out without a permanent family—many walking out of the system on their 18th birthday with nothing but a trash bag of belongings and nowhere to go.
We don't expect our own 18-year-olds to be fully ready to live independently—they're still learning to navigate adulthood with family support, resources, and safety nets. So why do we expect foster youth, many of whom have experienced profound trauma, abuse, and instability, to instantly succeed the moment they turn 18?
Kym Renner, who co-founded the RennerVation Foundation alongside her brother, Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner, decided to create something different: programs that offer children in foster care and at-risk youth what every child deserves: a childhood filled with joy, growth, and belonging.