This presentation is the result of a critical discourse analysis study which explored the stories–through interviews, observations, and journals–of three young adult women who aged out of the foster care system in a region of Central Tennessee. This presentation will focus on the stories from this research and how school staff and community partners can continue to improve their support of individuals in and aging out of the foster care system. Involvement and support from school staff and community partners was an emerging theme in the work. Participants will be provided with a review of the research that was a part of this study, helping the audience to consider other implementations for their own communities. Participants will be given brief overviews of the stories of the individuals who participated in the work with attention to how educators and community partners impacted their lives as they aged out of the foster care system. Participants will be given opportunities to explore how they “help others to write their stories” as educators and community partners are daily impacting the stories and lives of those served. Youth in foster care face many challenges daily, schools and partners can team together to help these youth overcome those challenges. This presentation is an opportunity to have honest conversations about the challenges these youth face and the responses partners and school staff can provide. It is the hope that this session will provide a spring board through which educators and community partners will work towards implementing changes in their own communities.
