New York City and atlanta Chapter

Empowering youth with lived experiences in child welfare or complex life challenges to build their emotional and social skills for resilient adulthood.

Child smilingWoman with face-paint
FOSTER CARE UNPLUGGED
FOSTER CARE UNPLUGGED
FOSTER CARE UNPLUGGED
FOSTER CARE UNPLUGGED
FOSTER CARE UNPLUGGED
FOSTER CARE UNPLUGGED
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Healing Through Performance-Based Practice

Healing through Performance-Based Practice Foster Care Unplugged uses creative arts as a pathway to healing and empowerment. Through our unique Performance-Based Practice model, youth impacted by foster care, child welfare, and life challenges turn their experiences into stage plays, films, and programs that build emotional resilience, confidence, and leadership. It’s more than art — it’s transformation through storytelling.

Young man modeling
Woman and man standing back to back

Expected therapeutic outcomes

Foster Care Unplugged’s 12-week trauma-informed program helps youth heal from past experiences while building skills for a safer, more resilient future. Our model addresses how trauma can impact personal choices, behaviors, and self-esteem —and empowers participants to make positive, lasting changes.

Universality: Recognizing they are not alone — that others share similar feelings, thoughts, and experiences.
Altruism: Building self-esteem by supporting and helping their peers.
Instilling Hope: Finding inspiration by seeing others heal and thrive, while developing confidence in their own journey.
Developing Social Techniques: Learning healthier ways to communicate, set boundaries, and build strong relationships.
Cohesiveness: Creating a sense of belonging, trust, and community within the group.
Self-Actualization: Discovering their strengths, passions, and dreams — and gaining tools to achieve them.
Catharsis: Safely expressing and releasing difficult emotions tied to past or present experiences.

93

%
Group therapy participation

300

+
Youth Served

23

%
Boost in self-esteem among participants

40

+
Youth have traveled overseas in celebratory trips

Meet the Team:
Our Dedicated Staff.

Meet our dedicated team at Foster Care Unplugged, who are passionate about serving and supporting the youth in their communities.

The visionary behind Foster Care Unplugged as an alumni of the foster care system, Melody has leveraged innovative methods to empower foster care youth.

Juanita Joseph brings a wealth of experience, passion, and leadership to Foster Care Unplugged as the acting Executive Director of the NYC Chapter.

Joel Ceballos is a registered Series 7 licensed financial professional. He excels in providing in-depth financial analysis and balance sheet management, utilizing data-driven analytics to enhance business development.

Known in the community for creating internship and casting opportunities specifically to develop foster youth interested in connecting to the entertainment industry.

Stories of Triumph
in the Face of Adversity.

Hear the stories of impact directly from those we've touched. Our testimonials showcase the real-life transformations and the effects of support.

Headshot of young woman
Shanise Spencer
FCUP Alumni

"When I first arrived, I was curious about the absence of a script. They explained that the script would be crafted from our personal experiences. As I read through the developing script, I realized, 'Wow, this truly represents us."

Headshot of Young Woman
Crystal Marie Drake
FCUP Alumni

"My acting coaches are inspirational to me. I used to be afraid to speak and to tell people what I really think. In this program, I felt like I was able to be myself because, in art, that's what it's all about: being yourself."

Headshot of Young Woman
Rae Toussaint
FCUP Alumni

"It's very therapeutic for me because I'm more comfortable now. I'm very confident in sharing my story, you know? I don't sit there and cry and sob anymore. Now, I'm here to be an inspiration for other people."

Impactful Insights

Dive into our blog where stories come alive. Discover inspiring narratives, insights into our initiatives, and thought-provoking articles that shed light on foster care.

Humanity
Author:
Melody Centeno
December 23, 2023

Mitigating Trauma through Drama: Developing Positive Pathways for Lives Through Expressive Art

Did you know that youth within the child welfare system are more inclined to be targeted into human trafficking?

Innovation
Author:
Melody Centeno
December 23, 2023

The "Brother 4 Brother" Initiative

The "Brother for Brother" initiative is a movement with various partners within the Foster Care Unplugged advocacy community that allows various male subgroups and grass roots organizations in the community opportunities to become mentors to youth

Unlocking Answers: Your FAQs Demystified.

Got questions? We've got answers. Explore our FAQ section for quick insights into our work, how you can get involved, and details about our impact.

1. How old are most children in foster care?

Our program primarily focuses on teenagers, but we also work with children who are around the national average age for entering foster care, which is approximately seven years old.

2.  Do foster children ever get to go back to their families?

While the statistics are not as high as we would hope, approximately 50% of children in foster care are eventually reunited with their biological families after thorough vetting.

3. Are there any long term effects to being within the foster care system?

Foster children often face numerous challenges that can lead to increased stress and mental health issues, such as PTSD, compared to their peers in the general population.

4. How do demographics play a part in those who are within the foster care system?

There is a significant overrepresentation of minority groups, with Black and Native American children being disproportionately present in the foster care system compared to their population percentage.

5. How many children are in foster care in the United States?

Over 400,000 children are currently in foster care in the United States.

Drop us a laine at infoshohana23@gmail.com
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