CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Livingstone College is making huge strides with supporting students who've aged out of the foster care system. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Livingstone College just welcomed its first cohort of students utilizing the new Center for Aging Out 

  •  It's part of an initiative to support youth who've aged out of foster care  

  •  Five students are part of the college's new initiative 

  • One student says the center is already helping him with the resources he needs to focus on his college education 

The college recently launched the Center for Aging Out, a partnership with Home4Me, to provide teens aging out of foster care with resources they need to go to college. 

Livingstone just welcomed its first cohort of youth to the new program.

The students are part of the college's six-week Bridge Program. It provides support for high school graduates working to achieve provisional admission at Livingstone. 

Director of the Bridge Program Antina Johnson said the students who've aged out the foster care are getting the support they need academically from the Bridge Program and Center for Aging Out, simultaneously.

"Even after the six weeks is over, they're [able] to stay on campus," Johnson said. "We still provide them support even when the Bridge Program is over going into the school year as well. We have five students who came into the Bridge Program. We call them the first five because they are actually the first fruit starting this [new] program at Livingstone College. It makes me feel wonderful. This is only the beginning." 

Julian Dean, 18, is part of the first five that aged out of foster care. 

"It was tough — it was my first time and I ain't know what to do," Dean said of his time in foster care. "I was away from my mom and little sisters."

Dean says he was unsure about what he would do after leaving the foster care system.  

"A year ago I ain't expect to be in college at all," Dean said. 

Thanks to a staff member at his high school, Dean found out about Livingstone's programs and the new center. 

"I had people in my corner that kept pushing me because they knew I could be great," Dean said. 

Dean says the Center for Aging Out is helping him with the resources he needs to focus on a college education.

"Housing," Dean said. "Home4Me, they take care of things like snacks, whatever I need if I ask, they'll get if for me if they can. It feels great, I don't have to worry about missing a meal."

Livingstone College President Anthony J. Davis advocated to get the Center for Aging Out on the campus. 

He knows from experience what it's like for youth trying to achieve their academic dreams. 

"Dean is like so many other young people in foster care who are aging out," Davis said. "Eighty-four percent desire to go to college but only 3% go and only 1% percent graduate. Ask me how I know? Because I'm one of the 3% who actually went, I'm one of the 1% who graduated. I believe what we're doing on the campus of Livingstone College is transforming and changing lives." 

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