Children who “age out” of foster care are a group that many don’t realize exist. Unfortunately their lives post-foster care are often a reflection of that. As a matter of fact, these children by age 23 are seven times more likely to be homeless and five times more likely to have been arrested than their permanent home counterparts. Furthermore, only six percent have earned a two or four year degree and fifty percent are unemployed. Many of these children have spent several years within foster care and enter the world as adults without the resources that have been available to them while in care. More saddening is the reality that since many of these children have moved often among foster homes that they enter adulthood with few meaningful relationships.

   At Unite we believe our responsibility to meet this need can be found in the book of Luke. From chapter 15 we get a glimpse into God’s heart for the one sheep that is lost. Jesus’ teaches of how the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one that has wandered. We feel this importance when it comes to this group of children. We feel God wants us to show His love to them and with His help possibly change the course of their lives. Our program ‘The One’ aims to do just that.

    Our goal through ‘The One’ is to break the cycles above through community. We provide a  loving  home and a network of people to Junior and Senior high school students whose common goal is see these children succeed.This community of people is trained to understand the complexities of children who are the product of a history of trauma. They come from all walks of life and bring a special skillset to shape the lives of these young people. The parents in these homes are selected primarily for their passion to reach these students and their hearts to follow Jesus.