Ethan’s Story: Finding Home, Healing, and Hope

When Ethan turned 18, he made a choice that would shape the next chapter of his life. He decided to enter Rhode Island’s Voluntary Extension of Care program, known as VEC. Through VEC, young adults ages 18 to 21 can continue receiving support as they step into adulthood. That decision connected Ethan to Foster Forward, where he began receiving enhanced case management and the kind of steady, human support that helps young people build the lives they deserve.

One of the first big milestones in Ethan’s journey was receiving his own apartment through VEC. It was exciting and scary at the same time. Ethan said, “The feeling when I had just moved in was obviously very nervous, not knowing what was to come, but also very excited because I knew it was the start of something completely brand new.”

Like many young adults moving into their first place, he did not have the money to furnish it. Everything felt expensive and out of reach. Through community donations and the help of Foster Forward staff, Ethan received furniture that transformed the space into something that felt warm and personal. He remembers the exact pieces. “It was a table, a wardrobe, the dresser, a little nightstand. And somebody had also donated a very good quality couch, a nice chair, and a little ottoman.”

Those items made his apartment feel like his. “It seems small and it is not something you think about in the grand scheme of things, but that little decoration kind of makes the place. It makes life easier in general when you wake up and get to see and be like, this is mine and I get to keep it. This is where I get to keep my stuff.”

With a stable home beneath him, Ethan started looking ahead. One of the biggest turning points in his journey came through the ASPIRE matched savings program. This year, Foster Forward partnered with LISC and the Annie E. Casey Foundation to pilot an expanded version of the program that offered a two to one match instead of the usual one to one match. It also included financial coaching, which helped Ethan take control of the debt he had accumulated while trying to get on his feet.

He said, “When I had done the match and being able to see the check of that amount just kind of lifted a weight off my shoulders to the point where I did not have to worry about this financial debt anymore.” The relief was immediate. Without that pressure hanging over him, Ethan could finally focus on what he wanted his life to look like. “I was able to have more motivation and not as much worries in terms of finances after that.”

That space and clarity led to another major step. This year, Ethan decided he wanted to become a real estate agent. With encouragement from staff and new confidence in his own abilities, he enrolled in classes, studied hard, passed his exams, and was offered a position with a realty firm. He said, “Going into Foster Forward, I did not really have a clue what I wanted to do for my future. In my eyes, it was more of, I am just going to work a normal job until something falls into place. But after going there, I realized I do have more control over my life and I am able to direct it as I want it to go.”

While the programs and opportunities mattered, the relationships mattered just as much. Ethan often talks about the people he formed connections with during his time at Foster Forward. Staff checked in on him, encouraged him, and made space for him to talk about what he was going through. Those conversations helped him decide to start therapy on his own. “I was able to talk to Ana and that helped me to have the confidence to go into therapy on my own accord rather than being pushed into it.”

The support Ethan received also helped him take an emotional step that became one of the most meaningful parts of his story. For years, he had been disconnected from one side of his family. Through conversations at Foster Forward, he found the courage to try to reconnect. “After going to Foster Forward, I had a lot of help and I was able to talk about a lot. So it helped me to reconnect with them.”

One of the people he reunited with was his grandmother. The time they spent together in those months became something he treasures deeply. He said, “Being able to have that relationship, especially with my grandmother, meant everything. Having that support allowed me to have more moments with her that I can now keep as memories that I may not have been able to have if I had not had that support system.” She passed away on August first, and sharing this part of his journey is Ethan’s way of honoring her.

Ethan also talked about how much it meant to have someone he could call in moments of crisis or grief. “When my grandmother passed, my Foster Forward case manager was the second person I called.” Having someone from Foster Forward as one of his first calls during such a painful moment meant a great deal to him. “It really gives motivation and makes everything just that little bit easier so you do not have to worry about not having somebody who is going to back you at the end of the day.”

Today, Ethan is transitioning out of VEC and stepping confidently into adulthood. He has a home he has made his own. He has cleared his debt. He has a career path he is excited about. He has begun prioritizing his mental health. He has reconnected with family. And he knows what it feels like to have people who believe in him.

In his own words, “All their help guided me toward the life that I really want and deserve, I believe.”

Ethan hopes that by sharing his story, people will understand the real impact of support. The furniture, the financial coaching, the programs, the classes, the savings, the therapy, the conversations, the reconnection, the healing. All of it together helped him move forward.

And on Giving Tuesday, he hopes others will help make that possible for more young people like him.