Julia’s Story

Julia Charles knows exactly what 510,000 children and youth are going through. She entered foster care at an early age and watched her family ties sever, as her brothers and sisters were placed in different foster homes. She never understood why they couldn’t stay together. Julia was moved 16 times, had more social workers than she could count and finally left the foster care system at age 21 and was adopted at 23.

Julia has overcome her previously destructive behaviors and is leading a healthy lifestyle.  As a 25 year-old graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, Julia found caring adults and discovered an inner resilience. Her experiences have shaped her into a dynamic force committed to improving the foster care system and spreading the message of hope to young people in foster care.

Her first book, Surviving the Storm:  The Life of a Child in Foster Care, was released in July 2008. Julia’s story will help professionals and potential foster and adoptive parents find support and suggestions for how they choose to make a difference for young people in care. She hopes that youth in foster care will find companionship in her story, ways to embrace their challenges, and hope for their future.