Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us

LuLu entered foster care at five years old. Her mother abused drugs and abandoned her and her siblings to their father who abused them.  LuLu went through 156 homes during her time in foster care. Th…

In Part II of Jackie's story,  he tells us about the struggles and triumphs of going to college. He discusses founding UNT’s PUSH program to support foster care and aged out alumni and to educate the…

In part I of Jackie's story, we learn that his parents were addicted to drugs and alcohol resulting in the removal of their children.  Jackie describes how as a toddler, he and his siblings were disp…

At the age of 12-years-old, Janice was removed from her home with two brothers due to physical and continuous sexual abuse. She transitioned in and out of emergency shelters, foster homes, and relati…

Elisha

Elisha is a youth specialist for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. As well as a proud mom, wife, and aged out alumna. Elisha was removed from her family at the age of 6. …

Elisha is a youth specialist for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. As well as a proud mom, wife, and aged out alumni. Elisha was removed from her family at the age of 6. In Part…

In Part Two of Jimmy’s story, he discusses the overmedication of foster children in the system, the graduation rate of foster care children, and reforms for the funding of foster families. Jimmy also…

In Part One of Jimmy’s story, he recounts entering the foster care system at age 7 and being placed in 6 different foster homes. During his stay in foster care, he was physically abused in one home, …

In part 2 of Tony's story, the focus shifts to suggestions on how the foster care system could be reformed from the perspective of someone who has lived through it. Tony shares his experiences and cu…

In part 1 of Tony’s brave story he recounts entering the foster care system at a very young age due to neglect by his mother. Tony bounced around between 18 different foster homes before being adopte…

Hello listeners, we're taking a break from releasing episodes. We will be back in August! 

If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at agedou…

Krystal was removed from her home at a young age due to physical abuse. She was transitioned in and out of different shelters, RTCs, and group homes throughout her youth. She is now a senior at the U…

After multiple challenges and trauma, Joan chose to be placed in a group home rather than foster care. She tells us about her pleasant experiences growing up there compared to her tumultuous past in …

Hallie was only 3 years old when she entered the foster care system. Even that young age, she still vividly remembers moving from motel to motel with her biological parents and the domestic violence …

Growing up, Rose didn’t have a loving family. She was often deprived of food and severely beaten by her father. At the age of 14, her father forcibly committed her into a mental hospital. After runni…

After she was removed from her parents due to sexual abuse, Josie and her two siblings first entered the foster care system when she was only 8 years old. During her time in foster care, Josie had 14…

Brandon grew up with an abusive father and a mother addicted to drugs. When he was only 5 years old, he entered the foster care system. At the tender age of 7, Brandon was placed in a psychiatric hos…

Welcome to Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us! This is a podcast by the SMU Child Advocacy Clinic created to raise awareness regarding the child welfare system while giving youth who aged out a voic…