Supporting emancipated foster youth
ROOTED IN LOVE.
GROWING FUTURES.
More than temporary assistance
Building lifelong family, community, and
belonging for young adults leaving foster care.
Supporting emancipated foster youth
ROOTED IN LOVE.
GROWING FUTURES.
More than temporary assistance:
Building lifelong family, community, and belonging for young adults leaving foster care.
No Young Adult Should Age Out Of Foster Care Alone.
Young adults leaving foster care often enter adulthood without the family support most of us take for granted.
Forested Families exists to provide lifelong connection, belonging, and community.
Turning eighteen shouldn't mean facing life alone.
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No Support Network
Unlike many of their peers, they enter adulthood without a family to call for guidance, encouragement, or help during life's biggest challenges.
Housing instability
Many face homelessness within the first two years of leaving the system. Unlike their peers, they enter adulthood without a family to call on.
Education, Employment & Stability
Many young adults leave foster care without a high school diploma or GED and struggle to find stable employment. These challenges can lead to poverty, substance use, early parenthood, and increased vulnerability to exploitation. Youth with foster care experience are also recognized as being at higher risk for human trafficking.
Isolation & Mental Health
Without lasting relationships and a sense of belonging, many experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and loneliness, making the transition to independent adulthood even more difficult.
References: Annie E. Casey Foundation | Learn With Justice U | National Institute of Health
The Crisis
Approximately 1,000 youth age out of foster care in Ohio each year. Many emancipated foster youth age out of the system without the long-term support, stability, or family connection they need to thrive. Too many face housing instability, isolation, and uncertainty. Forested Families seeks to build lasting relationships and a supportive community for young adults navigating life after foster care.
Be The Community
You can help create lasting support and meaningful connection for emancipated foster youth as they move into adulthood. Through mentoring, volunteering, donating, or partnering with us, you help build stronger community and brighter futures for young adults. LEARN MORE ⇒
Referrals & Enrollment
We work alongside emancipated foster youth who are ready to take steps toward healthy, independent adulthood. Case workers, community partners, and young adults themselves can connect with us to learn more, make referrals, or begin the enrollment process. LEARN MORE ⇒
Our Response
Long-term support, not short-term fixes.
Forested Families walks alongside young adults that have aged out of foster care. Not just for a season, but for life.
Our program builds the three things every person needs to thrive.
Family
Consistent relationships with people who show up, through every season of life.
Community
A place to belong and be known — a network of support that outlasts any program.
Support
Practical guidance, encouragement, and tools for healthy, independent adulthood.
Why "Forested Families"
Trees survive because their roots are connected.
Beneath a forest floor, trees share nutrients and strength through a web of roots. No tree survives alone. We believe people thrive the same way. Forested Families exists to create a network of lasting relationships so young adults that have aged out of foster care can build lives grounded in belonging, hope, and support.
Get Involved
Join us in building lasting community.
Volunteer & Mentor
Walk alongside a young adult as a mentor, community member, or program volunteer.
Donate
Your giving helps fund the relationships, programming, and community that changes lives.
Partner
Churches, organizations, and businesses can partner to multiply our reach and impact.
FOR CASE WORKERS & AGENCIES
Refer a young adult to our program.
We work alongside emancipated foster youth who are ready to take steps toward healthy, independent adulthood. Referrals can be made by case workers, community partners, or young adults themselves.
FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE
You don't have to do this alone.
If you've aged out of foster care and are looking for community, support, or a family to walk through life with — we'd love to connect. You belong here.
Keep up to Date with Forested Families
Get updates on our program, events, and how you can make a difference.
Voices from Foster Care
Discover how the power of one story can change a life - and join us for an evening of hope, awareness, and meaningful conversation.
Connection & Support
Sometimes the most important work happens in the waiting. Read how God is using this season of preparation to build a foundation for the future of Forested Families.
Thankfulness & Investment
As we reflect on an incredible first year, join us in celebrating God's faithfulness, the generosity of our community, and the exciting work still ahead.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
be our community
Volunteering & Mentoring with Forested Families
We're making great progress on preparing the Forested Families home, and there are many ways to get involved.
Whether you're skilled in the trades or simply willing to lend a hand, we'd love to hear from you.
Immediate Needs
- Wood floor repair
- Scraping paint from existing woodwork
- Priming original wood trim
- Deep cleaning following demolition work
Skilled Trades Needed (Coming Soon)
- Electrical: Help running wiring throughout the house
- Plumbing: Assist with plumbing installation (we have an experienced volunteer from Dean's Plumbing leading this effort, but additional helping hands are welcome)
Upcoming Construction Projects
- Drywall installation
- Interior painting
Share Your Skills
As we prepare to welcome young adults into the program, we'll also need volunteers who are passionate about teaching life skills. If you have experience in areas such as:
- Budgeting and personal finance
- Cooking and meal planning
- Home and vehicle maintenance
- Job readiness and interviewing
- Time management and organization
- Health and wellness
- Any practical life skill that helps young adults thrive
...we'd love to connect with you. Reach out to learn more about becoming a Life Skills Mentor.
Not sure where you fit? We'd love to talk with you. Whether you have professional skills, a willing pair of hands, or simply a heart to serve, there's a place for you at Forested Families. Contact us to learn how you can get involved.
building more than a home
The first step toward a lifelong community of belonging, stability, and support.
Our vision is to create a lasting community where emancipated foster youth can find support, stability, mentorship, and belonging long after they leave foster care.
Today, that vision begins with a pilot home currently being renovated to provide a safe and supportive environment for young adults transitioning into independence. Through personalized guidance, life skills training, educational and career support, and meaningful relationships with caring adults, participants will gain the tools and confidence needed to build their future.
Most importantly, when they move into independent living, they won't leave the Forested Families community behind. The relationships, encouragement, and support will continue for years to come because family should never have an expiration date.