Aging out of foster care often feels less like a graduation and more like an eviction. One day, you’re told to pack your things. The next, you’re expected to step into adulthood with no clear foundation and no one to guide you.

In this episode of the Fostering AfterCare Podcast, Angie shares her own story of being abruptly displaced under the CARS agreement, navigating college while homeless, and wrestling with deep questions of identity, faith, and survival.

We’ll explore what happens when the “blueprints” of foster homes keep changing, leaving young people with fragments instead of a steady foundation. We’ll also dive into sobering statistics about homelessness, unemployment, and mental health, and reflect on what must change in the ecosystem of care if we want better outcomes for youth.

This episode is about more than data; it’s about grief, faith, and the ongoing search for belonging. It’s for anyone who has ever asked, “What do I do now?” and for those who walk alongside adults with foster care experience.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Angie’s personal story of aging out and the abrupt loss of stability.

• A moment of faith questioning and searching for truth.

• The blueprint and foundation metaphor; why building a stable life after foster care is so difficult without support.

• Heartbreaking data: 1 in 4 youth experience homelessness within 4 years of aging out.

• Why caregivers, caseworkers, and communities also need support to prevent burnout.

• A vision of what aging out could look like: not a shove off a cliff, but a supported step into a larger room.

• A prayer of encouragement for all who carry the question, “What now?”

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever faced a moment where the question, “What do I do now?” echoed loudly in your own heart? How did you navigate it, and who walked with you?

• If you’re an adult with foster care experience, how have you carried that question into adulthood?

• If you’re a supporter—friend, ally, mentor, or relative—how can you help turn the impossible leap into a supported step?

Sponsor Spotlight This episode is sponsored by the Empty Frames Initiative, a nonprofit empowering orphaned and vulnerable youth as they transition out of care by providing life skills, community, and access to the Gospel. Learn more at fillingemptyframes.org.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Angie on Instagram: @angelaquijadabanks

• Subscribe to the Cozy Glow Newsletter

• Learn more about I Am Success Workbook