The power of presence: how mentorship heals what the system breaks

The child welfare system is charged with protecting children from abuse or neglect—but too often it breaks the very thing children need most: connection.

When a child is removed from their home, they’re not just leaving a place—they’re being pulled away from the people and environments that shape their identity. Parental bonds are severed. Siblings are scattered. Schools can be changed. Friendships disappear. By design, the system disrupts bonds. And when those bonds are broken, children lose the social gift of hope.

Each year, over 20,000 young people in the United States age out of foster care without a permanent family connection. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, one in five of these young adults will become homeless within a year, and only 3 percent will earn a college degree. Many will cycle through systems of incarceration, poverty, and mental illness.

The odds for youth aging out of the foster care system are deeply troubling. Some have even begun referring to the child welfare system as “the highway to homelessness.” Data reveals that up to 50 percent of the homeless population has a history in foster care, and approximately 25 percent of youth aging out of the system will experience homelessness during their transition to adulthood. This rate is alarmingly high compared to just 4 percent of the general population of young adults ages 18 to 26 who face homelessness.

According to Monroe County, in 2024 there were 114 youth ages 14 to 21 in the foster system. Many of these young people are living between foster homes and group homes—bouncing from placement to placement, often without warning or explanation. This instability isn’t just inconvenient; it’s traumatic. It disrupts their education, severs relationships, and makes it nearly impossible to build the sense of safety and trust needed for healthy development.

Behind that number—114—are real lives, each with a story, a dream, and a deep longing to be seen, heard, and valued. These youth are navigating some of life’s most difficult years without the steady presence of a family or a consistent adult. And without targeted support, many of them will age out of the system without the connections they need to thrive.

What’s missing isn’t just services—it’s people. These outcomes are all symptoms of shattered bonds.

Research consistently shows that strong, healthy social connections are one of the most powerful protective factors in a young person’s life. When youth have even one stable, caring adult in their corner, they are more likely to complete school, avoid substance abuse, maintain good mental health, and achieve long-term stability. Social connection builds resilience—it acts as a buffer against toxic stress, trauma, and adversity. For youth in foster care, who have already experienced significant relational disruption, these connections aren’t just helpful—they’re essential. They form the foundation for healing, belonging, and hope.

At HOPE585, we believe the most urgent intervention is not a program—it’s a person. A trusted adult. A consistent voice. A presence that stays.

Our Bridge to Hope Mentorship program was created with one goal: to restore what the system breaks. We match youth in foster care with mentors who show up not as saviors, but as steady, compassionate companions. It’s not about what’s given and received, it’s about who we become together.

The science of hope tells us that hope is built when people can envision a future and see pathways to get there—with someone walking beside them. Our mentors do just that. They show up week after week, sometimes just to listen. Sometimes to drive. Sometimes to say, “You matter. You belong. You’re not alone.”

We’ve seen what happens when a young person meets someone who refuses to give up on them. One teen told us, “When I am with my mentors I feel like I belong.”

That is the power of presence.

We cannot fix every flaw in the foster system overnight. But we can fight to restore the bonds that have been broken. That begins with mentorship. With real people, committing to real relationships that bring real healing.

Let’s stop expecting youth to age out into independence when the system never gave them the foundation of interdependence. Let’s stop pretending services are a substitute for family. Let’s start investing in mentorship as a justice strategy.

At HOPE585, we believe that every child deserves someone who says, “I see you. I’ll walk with you. I won’t leave.”

You can be that someone.

If you believe in the power of presence to transform lives, take the next step with us. Visit HOPE585 for a Vision Tour or contact our mentor coordinator, Kyara Wilson, at [email protected] to learn how you can get involved. You can also learn more about our mission and impact at hope585.org.n and impact at hope585.org.

Ashley Cross, Ed.D., is founder and executive director of HOPE585, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering marginalized youth and families. A third-generation foster parent and advocate for policy change, she has spent her career building hope-centered communities. The views expressed here are her own.

The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing  [email protected]