Every year, thousands of forsaken youth turn 18 and age out of care. What happens next is rarely part of the public conversation — and often heartbreaking.
At 18, most teens are celebrating milestones — prom, graduation, first jobs, college plans. But for thousands of forsaken youth, turning 18 signals something else entirely: the abrupt end of their support system.
No home. No guidance. No plan.
Many of these young adults exit group homes or foster placements with nothing but a trash bag of belongings. They’re expected to find jobs, housing, and stability — with no family, no savings, and often no safety net.
That’s where Navigating Upwards steps in. We provide the structure and dignity these young adults need — a clean place to stay, access to showers and clothing, internet to apply for jobs, and most importantly, people who care.
Because the system may stop, but their journey shouldn’t.
