SALISBURY, N.C. — The month of May is recognized as National Foster Care Month. A college in Salisbury kicked off the awareness month by showing its support for young adults aging out of foster care and seeking a higher education. 

What You Need To Know

  • May is National Foster Care Month 

  • Livingstone College announced plans to launch a new center to support youth aging out of foster care with reaching their higher education goals

  • The college's president was motivated to start the center by his experiences growing up in foster care 

According to the National Foster Youth Institute, 50% of children in foster care will finish high school and less than 5% graduate from a four-year college. 

Livingstone College has partnered with Home4Me, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to be a voice for teens in foster care, to change this data.

Together, they're launching a center for aging out at Livingstone College to support youth with the resources they need to successfully obtain their degree.

Home4Me and Livingstone signed a Memorandum of Understanding, cementing their commitment to the center. 

Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis signed the memorandum. 

When it comes to foster care, Davis says this subject matter hits close to his heart. 

Davis' mother gave birth to him when she was 14. His grandmother was expected to become their caregiver, but she died on the same day as Davis' birth. 

A foster care mother, who at first was reluctant to take in another child, ended up raising Davis. 

"You're looking at a president who aged out of foster care," Davis said. "Ninety days before my 18th birthday, I went into the United States military. There are so many young people who hit their 18th birthday and when that day hits, it triggers them to be homeless, because the resources stop." 

Davis says many youth, especially Black and brown kids, don't have the same resources he did leaving foster care. He says the new center is a way to provide those tools for young adults aging out of foster care, so they can get their college degree. 

"Eighty-four percent of all youth who are aging out in America say if they could, they would go to college. Only 3% go, and only 1% graduate. We're going to launch a center on our campus to change the trajectory of young people aging out, because the data is not in their favor. On the campus, we're going to provide the structure, the support, the stability and the sanctuary you need to [be successful]. 

The facility location for the center for aging out has not yet been finalized. However, Davis hopes to repurpose an existing building on the campus. 

Davis says so far, around 20 students have committed to the center in the fall. 

Anyone interested in the new center is asked to contact the college's office of admissions.