What do real solutions mean to a struggling generation?

Twenty-year-old Matt* has been in foster care on and off since he was two years old. The inconsistency and neglect he often experienced caused a sense of bitterness, anger and depression to take hold of him. From the very beginning he struggled with these strong emotions. “You feel sometimes like life is a lie; you see other people resembling biological families asking how you are related to your [foster] family. You make up lies because you are not comfortable telling others the truth of your situation,” said Matt. He says he was often embarrassed and worried about how others would judge his situation and he began to get into trouble, unable to control the emotions that were bottled up inside of him.

After a mandate from the State, Lifeline was able to step in and work in Matt’s life to help him draw from the positive and look toward a bright future. By living at Pierceton Woods Academy—Lifeline’s residential campus—staff members and counselors were able to work directly with Matt in a focused and stable environment. Matt stated, “Now, I look back at my past and I am grateful that the state stepped in to help – otherwise who knows where I would be now…personally, I feel I would be on the streets.”

Matt worked his way up to Lifeline’s Phase III program – a program designed for successful youth who have experienced a real change in their lives and would like to take a further step toward independence. In Phase III youth are helped with finding jobs, schooling, future housing, and other goals they are working toward.

Matt has enthusiastically taken full advantage of the help, encouragement and guidance Lifeline staff has been able to offer him. He is attending college, living on campus, has gotten his driver’s permit, and succeeded in earning a Lifeguarding certification – complete with CPR and 1st Aid certification. Matt is ready to pursue dreams that once seemed impossible.

What do solutions mean to Matt? He answered this with a big smile on his face:

“The beginning of a new life.”

*Name has been changed for privacy