When Stephanie turned 18 years old and aged out of the foster care system, she reached a fork in the road—one path led back home to her family of origin and the other led to DePaul’s Independent Living program. Stephanie struggled with such a big decision at such a young age, but in the end, she chose the second path in hopes it would change her life for the better.
“That was the hardest decision,” said Stephanie. “But I didn’t know what I was going to go back home to. I knew the program would help me reach my goals.”
Stephanie’s instinct was right. A year later, she has her driver’s license and is saving for a car. She is pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a mechanic, obtaining a certificate in automotive analysis and repair at the local community college and working nearly full-time at Advance Auto Parts.
“I was hoping to find independence and get stable on my feet, and I have done that,” said Stephanie. “I’ve always wanted to go to school for mechanics, and DePaul has helped me stay on track with that.”
“Stephanie has significantly increased her self-confidence, independence, and daily living skills, and we could not be prouder of her progress,” said Ryan, independent living specialist.
Stephanie’s journey to self-sufficiency has not been easy or without difficult moments. But in each of those moments, Stephanie has found strength in looking back at how far she has come.
“People in the system sometimes don’t have much hope, and I was one of them,” said Stephanie. “Now I have hope for my future. It’s overwhelming at times, but I’m going to keep pushing and not give up.”
Stephanie’s story is just one snapshot of the way DePaul’s Independent Living program walks alongside young adults on the road to independence. When foster youth approach the age of 18 and aging out of the system becomes a reality, DePaul’s IL program provides a safety net of support, a comfortable place to live, and the opportunity to pursue dreams, whatever they may be.
From July 2024 to July 2025, of the young adults currently in our IL program and those who discharged during this time:
- 71% obtained learner’s or driver’s license
- 61% purchased a car
- 80% discharged to their own housing/ stable housing option
- 97% obtained high school diploma or GED or are currently pursuing completion of high school or GED program