When Ethan first arrived in our apartment program, he was withdrawn and afraid to step outside his door. The weight of past trauma and addiction kept him isolated, convinced that his story had already been written.

But over the next three years, surrounded by the steady support of his therapist and program staff, Ethan began to believe in something new — that he could be the author of his own future.

He found purpose in a job he loved and connection within Missouri State University. When he aged out of foster care, Ethan became the very first participant in our Fostering Stability program, determined to build a life defined by choice, not circumstance.

He worked, saved diligently, and set out to see the world — he’s currently traveling in Georgia, the country, not the state. Today, Ethan is living the change he once thought impossible: traveling, learning, and thriving with joy and purpose. No longer isolated, he’s rewriting his story — perhaps the first former foster youth to take a gap year, and certainly proof that transformation is possible.