I Was a Foster Child and Now I'm a Foster Care Activist

Fostered or Forgotten is a Teen Vogue series about the foster care system in the United States, produced in partnership with Juvenile Law Center and published throughout National Foster Care Month. In this op-ed, Tanisha Saunders explains her experience in foster care and how National Foster Youth Shadow Day has helped her mentor other youth in the system.

I was a junior in high school when I finally found the courage to speak up and tell a school counselor about the physical, verbal, and emotional abuse I was facing. When counseling and other supportive measures failed to repair the damage, I was placed in foster care.

I was frustrated and confused. I felt as if I was being punished for telling my story. I didn’t want to be taken from my home.