For many young people, adolescence is marked by possibility. For others, it is shaped by trauma, instability, and survival. For youth who enter foster care, the difference between those paths often depends on access to stability, education, and long-term support.
Aaliyah’s early childhood was marked by abuse, neglect, and repeated displacement. By age 13, she had experienced more than a dozen foster placements and learned to rely primarily on herself. That changed when she was placed at Place of Hope, a nonprofit organization providing neighborhood-based foster care and trauma-informed services for children and youth.
For the first time, Aaliyah experienced consistency — a stable home, caregivers who remained present, and adults who prioritized her education. She developed a love of reading and learning, eventually advocating for herself in court as a teenager and setting her sights on a future in law. Today, Aaliyah is a sophomore at Hillsdale College.
Her story is one of many that underscores Place of Hope’s belief that education and accountability are critical pathways to healing and independence.
The organization prioritizes education and workforce readiness across all programs, supporting youth who pursue both college and skilled trade pathways. Place of Hope partners with nearly two dozen educational institutions, foundations and workforce organizations to ensure access to academic support, career exploration, trades and postsecondary opportunities.
Through Place of Hope’s Excel Leadership Institute, youth receive leadership development, life-skills training and career preparation designed to equip them for long term success. In addition, the Place of Hope Foundation administers more than a dozen education endowments that provide sustained |
|
financial support for students pursuing higher education or vocational training. These include the Kazma Family Endowment, the Dru and Debbie Schmitt Endowment, and the Weinstein Endowment, among others.
“Place of Hope is successfully solving one of society’s most intractable problems with a perfect balance of caring, planning, execution, and vision,” said Dru and Debbie Schmitt, longtime supporters of the organization.
Another recent example of that impact is Kaleigh, a 2025 graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School. Kaleigh received Place of Hope’s 2025 L.E.A.D. Award through the Kazma Family Endowment and is now attending Palm Beach State College, where she is pursuing a career in photography.
Advocates say stories like Aaliyah’s and Kaleigh’s reflect a broader strategy focused on outcomes rather than short-term intervention. By combining stable placements with academic opportunity, mentorship and financial support, Place of Hope aims to disrupt cycles of trauma that often limit educational attainment for youth in care.
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time when experts emphasize that youth who experience instability and trauma are at increased risk for unhealthy or abusive relationships, exploitation and human trafficking. Place of Hope’s prevention education, trauma-informed care and emphasis on self-worth and life skills serve as protective factors, helping young people recognize warning signs and build healthy futures.
Community members interested in supporting youth in foster care can learn more about Place of Hope’s programs, education partnerships, and endowment opportunities by visiting placeofhope.com or scheduling a campus tour. |
|