How Foster Youth Thrive When Someone Stays

For the Collins family, foster care did not begin with a plan. It began by paying attention to the needs in their own neighborhood.

Barry and Jorden Collins were raising their two children when three siblings moved into the house across the street. Among them was a young boy named Anthony. Over time, the Collins family noticed things that were hard to ignore. The children were often on their own, the support at home was limited, and stability was missing.

“God just told Jorden, ‘Keep your eyes on those kids,’” Barry shared.

What started as helping neighbors slowly became something much bigger. Meals were shared, time was spent together, and trust grew naturally. Before long, the Collins family realized these children needed more than occasional support. They needed consistency, safety, and most of all, they needed a family. 

Eventually, Barry and Jorden welcomed all three siblings into their home.

“We went from two kids to five kids in one day,” Barry said with a laugh.

The transition changed every part of their family life. It stretched them financially, emotionally, and spiritually. It also filled their home with a deeper sense of purpose and connection. Today, years later, the Collins family still talks about that decision as one of the greatest blessings of their lives.

Learning What Family Feels Like

For Anthony, joining a new family was not easy.

Even after moving into the Collins home, learning how to trust and receive care took time. He described the experience honestly, remembering how unfamiliar family life felt in the beginning.

“It didn’t even feel like a family. It didn’t feel like a home,” Anthony said quietly.

Walking into a house filled with structure, support, siblings, and parents who cared about him was completely different from what he had known before.

“Trying to figure out how that feels to have a family was a difficult experience,” he shared.

Now, looking back, Anthony sees something different. He sees people who stepped in when they did not have to, people who chose to stay.

“These people went out of their way to take care of us and put my siblings and myself in a better home,” he said. “It’s just an amazing thing.”

That experience shaped not only Anthony’s life, but also the heart behind the work now happening through Good Dirt Collective. 

Why Community Matters for Foster Youth

Jorden, one of the founders of Good Dirt Collective, where she helped create a place for young women impacted by foster care to find meaningful work, mentorship, and a supportive community through pottery.

She understands the challenges many of these young women face. Young adults who age out of foster care often enter adulthood carrying trauma, instability, and loneliness with them. Many are expected to navigate life completely on their own. Without family support, even everyday responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Some have never experienced healthy guidance, consistent encouragement, or a dependable support system.

Anthony has seen the difference that consistent support and meaningful relationships can make.

“A lot of these people are on their own and figuring it out,” he explained. “You can’t really learn much with that.”

That is one reason the mission of Good Dirt Collective matters so deeply to the Collins family. The organization creates more than employment opportunities for young women impacted by foster care. Anthony described it as giving people “some place where they can belong.”

That sense of belonging can change everything for someone who has spent years feeling overlooked or forgotten.

At the pottery studio, young women are surrounded by mentors, volunteers, and people who genuinely care about them. Relationships form slowly, trust builds over time and instead of being treated like a problem to solve, the girls are welcomed into a community that sees their value. For Jorden, that kind of support is life changing.

“Everybody needs a mommy and a daddy,” she said gently. Her words were simple, but the emotion behind them filled the room.

A Family That Grew Beyond Expectations

When the Collins family first stepped into foster care, they knew life would become harder in some ways. Resources became tighter, their routines changed, and there were plenty of nights filled with inexpensive dinners and learning how to stretch what they had. But Jorden speaks about those years with gratitude.

“I think it benefited my children,” she said. “They’re much humbler, thoughtful, and looking at the world with Jesus’ glasses on to see who they can help.”

Their children watched generosity happen inside their own home. They learned compassion not through lessons, but through daily life.

Over the years, the Collins family watched all five of their children grow into adulthood and pursue meaningful futures. One earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Another pursued law school. Anthony is preparing to graduate college with a business degree.

Jorden smiled while describing what it feels like to watch all of them succeed.

“We have all these extra rocket ships that we get to watch do these amazing things,” she said.

The family that once consisted of four people now fills holidays, group chats, celebrations, and everyday life with even more love than they imagined possible.

Barry put it this way:

“You feel like it’s a sacrifice. But that’s not what it is. It’s what [we are] getting back.”

You Do Not Have to Be an Expert

For many people, foster care can feel overwhelming. There is often a fear of saying the wrong thing, not knowing enough, or not being prepared. The Collins family understands those fears, but they believe compassion matters more than expertise.

“You don’t need to be an expert,” Barry said. “You just need to have the heart to want to help.”

That mindset continues to shape the work at Good Dirt Collective. Volunteers are not expected to have perfect answers. They are simply invited to show up consistently, care deeply, and be willing to learn.

Jorden believes volunteering can be a powerful first step for anyone wanting to support foster youth.

“We love volunteers,” she said. “Just see who these girls are.”

Behind every young woman is a story. Behind every guarded conversation is someone learning how to trust again. Sometimes the most meaningful thing a person can offer is simply presence. The Collins family knows firsthand how powerful that can be. One decision to care for three children across the street transformed not only those children’s futures, but their own family forever. And now, through Good Dirt Collective, that same spirit of connection, support, and belonging continues reaching young women who need it most.