Welcome Message from Leadership
Maggie Stevens, Ed.D.
President & CEO
Kate Hussey
Board Chair
“Why do you Foster Success?”
When our board gathered earlier this year, we began with this simple yet powerful question. Each of us shared unique experiences, perspectives, and reasons for why we foster success, but one theme connected them — we are united by a belief that every young person transitioning out of foster care deserves the opportunity to thrive.
For more than a decade, Foster Success has walked alongside teens and young adults in Indiana as they transition from foster care to adulthood. These young people often face life’s most difficult milestones — graduating from school, finding stable housing, starting a career — without the safety net of family. Our mission has always been to ensure that they are heard, supported, and empowered as they build their futures.
The need is great. Each year, thousands of young people across the country age out of foster care, and too many struggle with homelessness, unemployment, and limited access to higher education. While we have made tremendous strides in Indiana, the challenges that older foster youth face extend beyond our state.
The transformational impact of work for Indiana’s older foster youth inspired us to think bigger.
That is why we are proud to share that Foster Success has expanded nationally. Through new partnerships in Arizona, Maryland, and Ohio, just in the past year, we supported more than 1,800 young people across all four states in their pursuit of a college degree — providing resources, coaching, and community at a time when they need it most.As you read this year’s Impact Report, you will see that while we are headquartered in Indiana, we are successfully providing support to young people transitioning out of foster care nationally.
This expansion is more than growth; it is our mission in action. As we enter the second year of our Strategic Plan, we are building on the youth-informed, outcome-driven programs developed in Indiana and working to ensure that older foster youth nationwide never have to navigate the journey to adulthood alone.
To our supporters and partners — your generosity and commitment have made this impact and expansion possible, and we are deeply grateful for the ways you have fostered success in the lives of the young people we support. Thank you for being part of this journey.
While you learn more about our young people, we invite you to ask yourself: how will you foster success?
Thank you for partnering with and trusting us to create change and improve outcomes for older foster youth. Through your engagement, you are the catalyst for fostering success in the work we do — thank you.