Studies show that being in foster care significantly increases a person’s risk of experiencing homelessness and institutionalization. When young people who have been in foster care have their own children, they may be vulnerable to having them removed by the child welfare system because of factors related to the lack of stability that they have experienced. Fortunately, with support from ICL, that wasn’t the case for Jenn. Jenn grew up in New York City’s foster care system, cycling in and out of different homes and psychiatric hospitals. Last year, she became pregnant and was accepted into Emerson-Davis, where she received stable housing and support for herself and her child as she embarked on her motherhood journey. Now, Jenn lives in her own apartment with her son and is proud of who she has become as a parent. “My son has changed my life. I want to raise him to understand and deal with his emotions. It's ok to be angry or sad, but it's what you do with those emotions that matters,” Jenn shares. The Brooklyn Downtown Star recently highlighted Jenn’s story and her experience at Emerson-Davis. | |