S3/Ep 12: When Foster Kids Turn 18, the System Abandons Them. So What Happens Next?

S3/Ep 12: When Foster Kids Turn 18, the System Abandons Them. So What Happens Next?

From Guardians of Hope: Empowering Child Advocacy by Cynthia Ramsaran

February 15, 2026 · 15 min · Season 3 · Episode 12

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges faced by foster youth who age out of the system at 18 and the initiatives created to support them.

Over 328,000 children are currently in the U.S. foster care system. In 2024 alone, more than 15,000 youth aged out without a permanent family—many walking out of the system on their 18th birthday with nothing but a trash bag of belongings and nowhere to go. We don't expect our own 18-year-olds to be fully ready to live independently—they're still learning to navigate adulthood with family support, resources, and safety nets. So why do we expect foster youth, many of whom have experienced profound trauma, abuse, and instability, to instantly succeed the moment they turn 18? Kym Renner, who co-founded the RennerVation Foundation [https://www.rennervationfoundation.org/]alongside her brother, Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner, decided to create something different: programs that offer children in foster care and at-risk youth what every child deserves: a childhood filled with joy, growth, and belonging.

People in this episode

Host: Cynthia Ramsaran

Guest: Kym Renner

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RennerVation Foundation

Places: U.S.

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