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Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_01
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_01 Youth who age out of the foster care system face myriad challenges associated with family instability and poverty. They often lack basic life skills or the support network needed to transition to adulthood.
Seven out of 10 girls who age out of the foster care system will become pregnant before the age of 21, according to the National Foster Youth Institute. Youth Today spent time with two women in New Mexico who were in foster care as youth as they reflect on their own childhoods in the system and their hopes for their children.
Alyssa Davis, 24, snuggles with her two eight-month-old identical twin sons, Samuel and Dean, while her eldest son, Zeppelin, four, naps in his bedroom. Davis is a former foster youth from New Mexico who spent 12 years in the system before aging out at age 18. Life was full of instability with 30 different foster homes and 12 different schools over the years.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
See the story and gallery on Youth Today
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_02
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_02 Davis’s husband checks in with the twins at their home in Albuquerque. The twins, Samuel and Dean, lay in the couple’s living room, below a set of matching mobiles. The carpeted floor of the three-bedroom apartment is covered with toys — stuffed animals, plush blankets and toy cars — including a fire truck with a working hose.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_03
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_03 Davis plays with her twins at their home in Albuquerque. Davis is a Youth Advocate for NMCAN. Through her work with NMCAN, Davis has advocated for the foster youth tax credit, expansion of the tuition waiver for foster youth, and the Fostering Connections Act, which extends support for young people ages 18-21. Davis was not eligible for extended foster care when she aged out.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_04
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_04 Davis, a published poet, looks through a collection of her poetry from 2010-2014. She began writing when she entered the foster system as a young child. She could usually find a pen and would scribble rhymes on tissues, small pieces of paper, whatever she could find.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_05
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_05 A look into one of Davis’ collections of poetry from her youth.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_06
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_06 Davis, Samuel, and Zeppelin outside their apartment days after Halloween.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_07
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_07 Davis’ son Zeppelin searches through a basket of toy cars and trucks looking for the perfect vehicle for his race track.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_08
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_08 Joanna Delaney sits on her couch with her daughter, Violet, three, and three of their many cats. Delaney, a foster youth from Albuquerque, has always loved animals. Their presence helps create a sense of comfort for Delaney, who grew up in a family of nine.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_09
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_09 Delaney adjusts the tiara on her daughter Violet’s head to complete her flowered princess outfit for Halloween at their apartment in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_10
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_10 Delaney knocks on the door of a neighbor while trick or treating with her daughter Violet at their apartment complex in Albuquerque on Halloween night.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_11
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_11 Delaney looks down and speaks gently to her one-year-old son, Orion, in their apartment in Albuquerque. At age 18, Delaney left the Transitional Living Program after meeting a boyfriend. After a period of transitional housing and homelessness, the two moved into an apartment. Soon after, she got pregnant.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_12
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_12 Delaney gently brushes her daughter Violet’s hair with a soft brush.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_13
Former Foster Youth Navigate Motherhood_13 Delaney chases after her daughter Violet as they trick-or-treat in their apartment complex on Halloween night in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photo: Gabriela Campos
Story caption: Samuel Gilbert
© Gabriela Campos and Samuel Gilbert