Embrace Families Takes Youth in Foster Care on Florida College Road Trip

Nine local teenagers in foster care are working on their college plans after taking a summer road trip across Florida. Embrace Families, Central Florida’s leading nonprofit child welfare agency, organized a week-long trip for a group of rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to visit eight Florida universities.
 
Not only did the experience give the teens a sense of what college is like, where they may want to go and what to study, but it also ensured they aren’t missing out on a traditional rite of passage their counterparts are experiencing with their families.
 
“What I liked most about our tour was being with the other kids,” said Ashleigh, who plans to study veterinary sciences. “The trip also showed me all the different college options that are available.”
 
The Embrace Families Youth Services team is now working with 39 teens in foster care who are participating in a summer program with Valencia and Seminole State Colleges. This was made possible through Embrace Families’ long-standing partnership with CareerSource Central Florida.
 
During the college tour, the teens visited University of Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, University of South Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Saint Leo University, Florida State University and University of Central Florida.
 
To learn more about Embrace Families, including the many ways to support youth in foster care, visit www.EmbraceFamilies.org.