The topic of foster children is very taboo in our country. When most people hear “foster child,” they don’t conjure up good images. Foster children are often shown in the media as mentally disturbed, rebellious, in and out of the juvenile system, and never achieving a permanent home. These stereotypes hide the true reality of the foster care system in this country. 
The Raise Me Up campaign is so vital because it dispels the myths of foster care and educates the public about the truths of foster care. Foster children come into the system through no fault of their own, but as a result of abuse and neglect. On top of the traumatic experience they have suffered at home, they face a new trauma of languishing in the foster care system. There are nearly 500,000 foster youth at any given time in the United States, and about 30,000 foster youth a year leave the foster care system at age 18 or older without ever finding a permanent home. Foster children who age out of the system are more likely to become pregnant, incarcerated, not finish high school and end up on welfare. 
Through my personal experience with the foster care system, I know the importance of lasting relationships, educational empowerment and positive self-worth. These important elements helped me become the person I am today. I am so fortunate that there were many times in my life where members of my community offered a hand to help raise me up. 
My foster parents stepped up to provide me with love, support and stability. Their fellow church members stepped up to assist me with clothes and food, helped me attend prom and helped donate items for my dorm room. My teachers stepped up to encourage me not to give up on my studies during times of stress, assisted me when I transitioned schools and advocated for my academic well-being. Many mentors stepped up to provide me with emotional support and guidance and give me an example to emulate in the future. CASA volunteers and Citizen Panel Review members, all community volunteers, raised their hands to advocate for my best interests through numerous court hearings. 
These invaluable personal connections helped build my self-esteem and motivate me to pursue long-term success in every aspect of my life. It is these personal connections that the Raise Me Up campaign is all about. It is these personal connections that all foster youth need to help them be successful for their rest of their lives, not just until age 18 or when they exit the system. To eradicate the need for the foster care system in Georgia, we must do more to engage the community and give volunteers an opportunity to raise their hands to assist in this work. Everyone has a role to play in the life of a child. No matter how big or small that role may be, it is vital, it is important and it is desperately needed. 
We, the current and former foster youth of Georgia, welcome these outstretched hands that are motivated to raising us up to new heights and levels. Thank you.