Here at Families First, we are always excited when one of our youth graduates from high school. It is even more exciting when they go on to college, vocational training programs, or other post secondary endeavors that lead to self sufficiency. According to the 2011 Kids Count Report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, adolescents who don’t complete high school will find it difficult to achieve financial success in adulthood. In 2009, about 1.1 million US teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were not in school and had not graduated from high school. When foster care is a factor, the likelihood of a youth not graduating from high school is even greater. The Families First Permanency Cooperative homes take pride in providing all youth in our care with the proper resources, connections, and support that will promote successful transition out of foster care and into adulthood. With the staggering national statistics surrounding the high school graduation rates of youth who age out of foster care, it is important that special attention is given to the educational needs of these youth; whether it is through tutoring or mentoring, Families First strives to give each youth the personalized attention needed to assist in their education growth.
This week’s blog is written about our very own, Mr. Lorenzo Mauldin. Lorenzo is a recent graduate of Maynard Jackson High School and was a resident of the Cherokee Permanency Cooperative home in Atlanta. Lorenzo received much-needed tutoring services through Families First in preparation for the SAT. Because Lorenzo played sports and planned to play football in college, he was required to make a certain score on his tests. Lorenzo worked hard; studying for the test between practices, tutoring, and other senior activities, and he made the score that he needed to get into the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He proves that when an individual is surrounded by a group of caring people both at home and in the community; his very own cheering squad, success is possible. At Families First, we strive to provide all children with an environment that is conducive to life-long learning and educational success.
Kim Anderson, Families First CEO
Lorenzo Mauldin was not your average high school football player. For this very talented defensive end, tackling his opponent’s quarterback was a small feat in comparison to the challenges he was forced to tackle off the field. Lorenzo grew up in foster care and moved around quite a bit before finding a home at Families First several years ago. Sitting outside of the Cherokee Permanency Cooperative, dressed from head to toe in the Louisville colors red and black (and we mean head to toe: his hair has been dyed bright red), his appreciation and love for Families First was abundantly apparent.
“Families First is the best thing that has happened to me”, says Lorenzo, eyes gazing from underneath his Louisville Cardinals baseball cap. Lorenzo spent most of his youth moving from home to home which, unfortunately, equates to moving school to school. He first came to Families First’s Cherokee Permanency Cooperative about six years ago and it was there that he found some much-needed stability.
“I can’t thank you enough for the countless ways that you have helped me, I mean, it’s been a lot. I am grateful for all of the emotional support, hope and guidance that I received from Families First. For the people who have fed me, the people who have put a roof over my head and clothes on my back, I really appreciate everything that Families First has done for me.”
Nationally, there are almost a half a million young people in the foster care system and about 20,000 age out of the foster care system each year at 18. Out of these youth, only about half earn a high school diploma. The need for tutoring and other academic supports are absolutely imperative for youth in foster care who do not have the support of a family to encourage educational achievement. And although it may be difficult for most people to imagine life without family, Lorenzo experienced this first hand and, as a result, he possesses a strong conviction to help other youth who share similar experiences.
“I plan to come back and give back. I have been helped before and I know how it feels to be helped. As long as Families First stays with me, I will stay with them.” As Lorenzo prepares to go off to college, he reflected on how much it means to have people who support youth.
“Continue to support youth like me.Sometimes we just need an extra push.”
His ultimate goal is to go to the NFL. He is optimistic about his future and he had some words for the young men who will come behind him at the Families First Cherokee Cooperative.
“Never give up on your future…Your life is only what you make it.” Lorenzo has worked hard to make his dreams come true. He admits to having lost focus for a little while in high school. His SAT scores initially were not high enough to get him into the school that he wanted to attend but he did not allow this to stop him from reaching his goals. Families First helped Lorenzo secure a tutor to help him achieve the score he needed on his SAT. The hard work and perseverance has paid off and he is now enrolled at the University of Louisville in Kentucky where he plans to study Sports Medicine and play football.
As Lorenzo sat outside of the house that he lived in for so many years and reflected on the support that the Families First community provided him, he shared his abundant gratitude and love. “This ’house’ eventually became my home and this ’organization’ became and is my “family.”
Lorenzo’s one request to his Families First “family” is: “Just come to the games! It is important that every young person has someone in the stands rooting for them; whether they win the spelling bee or go off to college to play football.”
Lorenzo is currently at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. His first day of classes was August 22nd and his first game is Sept. 1st 2011.
To learn about how you can support Lorenzo and other graduates at Families First, go to our Make it Click page.