IMPACT AREA SPOTLIGHT
Policy & Practice
– Maggie Stevens,
President & CEO
From Indiana to Washington, D.C.: Jordan’s Journey to Advocate for Foster Youth Across the Nation
“I was removed from my mother’s care at the age of one and lived with my grandmother until I was a teenager,” Jordan shared. “There were times of homelessness, and I was on the radar of DCS for a long time.”
After being separated from his younger siblings, who were placed in different housing situations, Jordan faced an uncertain future. He and his three siblings were split up into different school systems and homes, with Jordan and two of his siblings spending a month in an emergency shelter and his youngest sibling placed in a foster home. While his siblings eventually returned home, Jordan made the courageous decision to stay in foster care.
“I wrote a note to my judge saying I didn’t want to go home. I wanted to stay in foster care and do collaborative care. I didn’t believe my mother had changed, and I asked to stay with my foster parents,” Jordan recalled.
Jordan’s interest in foster care policy ignited when he attended an Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB) meeting—a program by Foster Success that empowers young people to develop leadership and advocacy skills. It was there that his passion for policy advocacy truly took off.
“I attended an IYAB meeting and was asked to go to the Annual Conference. That’s what really launched me into the field of policy,” he said.
Jordan’s advocacy work led him to Washington, D.C., where he met with members of Congress and their staff members and realized he could play a significant role in shaping the future of foster care nationwide.
“It felt like they really cared about what I had to say. It felt good that Maggie Stevens (Foster Success President & CEO) believed my voice needed to be heard.”
“In D.C., I spoke mainly about the extension of foster care and considering what the benefits might look like in other states,” he explained.
In his testimony, Jordan highlighted three critical factors for his success after foster care: building lasting relationships, having access to financial resources, and participating in Foster Success programs.
“We need relationships and supportive adults who will be there long after our time in foster care.”
For Jordan, the support of people who believe in him has been a key motivator in his advocacy work. One of his greatest supporters has been Dr. Maggie Stevens, who attended his testimony during his second trip to D.C.
“It meant the world that Maggie came to hear my testimony,” he said.
“I wish everyone had a Foster Success. In whatever capacity you need them, they’ll try to be there.”
Today, Jordan works as a case manager, assisting young people with foster care experience and their parents. His work focuses on helping individuals develop life skills, such as building autonomy and making informed decisions.
“My passion for foster care and foster youth is always on fire because I’ve lived it,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s drive to become a case manager stems from his desire to be a positive role model for the young people he supports. “Seeing the fruits of my labor, seeing kids not have to experience what I did, that in itself is rewarding,” he said. “It’s knowing that you are a visual representation of success for that youth.”
Looking ahead, Jordan is determined to continue advocating for foster youth, aiming to impact future generations.
“I want to uplift the younger generation and help them gain the skills to do what I’ve done,” he said.
“We are people with dreams and ambitions. We are people who break the cycles of poverty and dysfunction. We are people who have achieved many successes and received accolades. We will continue to make success the expectation, not the anomaly.”
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of young people say that they are proud of their accomplishments
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of young people experienced housing insecurity over the past year
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of young people believe they can influence the child welfare system
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of young people identify as LGBTQ+
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