Georgia lawmakers have launched a bipartisan Senate study committee to examine how well the state helps young people as they age out of foster care—and where critical gaps remain. The new group, chaired by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, opened its first hearing with testimony from former foster youth who described unstable housing, disrupted schooling, and limited guidance as they tried to move into adulthood.
Reginald “Reggie” Holloway told senators that after 17 years in foster care, the transition to college life quickly unraveled when he lost student housing and bounced between friends’ couches to avoid homelessness. Another speaker, Georgia State University biology student Kyra Stoute, recounted how missing or delayed school records led to her being held back a grade—an experience she said is common for students who change placements and districts.
Both Holloway and Stoute are part of Georgia EmpowerMEnt, a youth-led initiative supported by the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children. They urged the committee to focus on two pillars: stable housing and a clear path to higher education. Lawmakers, including Sen. Bo Hatchett, pressed witnesses on whether the fixes should come through new legislation, better training for school staff, or both.
State data shared at the hearing underscored the stakes: nearly 30% of Georgia’s roughly 11,000 children and young adults in foster care are between 14 and 20, and more than 650 are in the state’s voluntary extended foster care for ages 18 to 21. Donjai Calhoun, formerly with Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services, outlined existing services—independent living skills, health coverage, housing and employment help—and noted that 184 high school students in care graduated or earned GEDs this year, with about half planning college or military service. Yet only a small fraction of youth who age out ultimately complete postsecondary education, research presented to lawmakers shows.
Housing remains a flashpoint. Witnesses highlighted the federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) vouchers as a key lifeline, but noted Georgia has drawn down very few of them since the program’s 2019 launch—far fewer than peer states—leaving many young adults without long-term rental assistance. Community groups like Up3 Atlanta have stepped in to help youth secure vouchers more quickly, speakers said, but wait times through state programs can stretch into years.
The committee will gather input through the fall and deliver recommendations by December, potentially including new legislation or funding to close service gaps and improve outcomes for transition-age youth.