John, 21 years old, NJ

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John came into care at the age of 14, with seven siblings. His six younger siblings were all adopted by one family, but John and his oldest sister both had a hard time connecting with foster families, and they have each aged out of the child welfare system. John has maintained a relationship with his oldest sister throughout everything they've experienced, and she is the one person who understands the pain of losing their once large sibling group. John struggled tremendously with school and social/emotional connections over the seven years he was in the foster care system. He benefited tremendously from the consistent support of having a Court Appointed Special Advocate to encourage him. Through that support and John's own determination, John graduated from high school, completed an electrician certification program, and is now working full-time.

John is focused on saving up for his first car and being careful with his spending because he knows that any unnecessary purchases could delay his dream of having wheels. As he gets ready to move into his first apartment, he faces a long list of essentials he needs—like bedding, towels, dishes, and cleaning supplies. With so much to buy, he’s hoping to get some help with the costs as he prepares to take this big step and gain his independence, especially since he’s about to age out of the system.