PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — After aging out of foster care and struggling to find stability, Jamar says one conversation with a trusted mentor helped change the course of his life.
The young advocate is featured in a new digital story produced through Florida YouthSHINE, a statewide organization led by current and former foster youth. In the short film, Jamar reflects on his experience in foster care, the challenges he faced as a young adult and the support system that helped him find his footing.
“Not doing great before Florida YouthSHINE, I was kind of falling behind really early on and I was in need of an apartment and just a little bit of stability,” Jamar said.
Jamar, a former foster youth and advocate with Florida YouthSHINE, shares how the support of a mentor helped him find stability as he transitioned into adulthood. (Forever Family/Florida YouthSHINE)
At one of the lowest points in his life, Jamar reached out to a former case manager. She helped him secure housing and connected him with Florida YouthSHINE, where he met other young people with similar experiences.
“It was just like a different vibe,” Jamar said. “They were comfortable sharing their emotions. It was like, yeah, we’re getting through it, but things happen. We’re who we are because of that.”
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Through Florida YouthSHINE’s digital storytelling project, participants create short videos that share their experiences in foster care and highlight the people and programs that made a difference in their lives.
“You know, they’ll write out their stories and put certain stuff that they normally wouldn’t tell people into it just to try and make it better for the next kids in care,” Jamar said.
Jamar watches his digital story during a Florida YouthSHINE screening event. The short film recounts his journey from housing instability to finding support, confidence and career goals. (Forever Family/Florida YouthSHINE)
For Jamar, hearing stories from other former foster youth was impactful.
“It was just good for me to see in my mental journey and everything, becoming an adult, coming out of foster care, other people who were in that same position still trying, still laughing, still smiling and still being able to do those things,” he said.
Jamar said being part of the group boosted his confidence and helped him move closer to his goal of becoming a chef. He now has stable housing, earned his ServSafe certification and works in the food industry.
“And now, you know, I have a kitchen so I can go in and practice whenever I want,” he said. “I got my Serve Safe and everything. Now I got a job that’s not too far away from me.”
He hopes the digital stories encourage others to step up and support youth in foster care.
“These kids didn’t have a lot of support, and then it was just one person that came in,” Jamar said. “Hopefully, a lot of these stories inspire people to be that one voice.”
To watch the digital stories, visit floridayouthshine.org. To learn more about helping children and teens in foster care, visit ForeverFamily.org, in partnership with ChildNet and The Boca Raton.
Forever Families is Sponsored by Baker & DiSalvo Personal Injury Law.