"What am I gunna do next? The only person I knew to depend on was myself," Trinity Chaney said about leaving the 
foster care system.
Twenty-eight-year-old, Trinity spent half of her life in and out of foster homes. "I think fifteen, I can't remember but I moved around quite a bit," Trinity added.
Years ago, the state of Texas didn't provide children approaching adulthood with the opportunity to go to college. "I think some of the biggest changes have been the tuition fee waiver for Texas supported schools," Tifani Smith, Foster Care & Adoption Supervisor said.
On top of paying for college, the state also provides a transitional living allowance up to $1,000 dollars, aimed towards helping fosterchildren get established while transitioning into adulthood.
Although Trinity is now out of foster care, she is still eligible for the tuition fee waiver and is using it to study at Cisco Junior College.
"We feel like it's something that we've earned after all we've been through," Trinity adds. While it's great that college can be paid for, she admits that there were things missing from her childhood growing up in foster care.
"Such as jumping on trampolines, spending the night. I got to go on one date when I was in foster care when I was sixteen because, you know, the background checks, liability issues of the agency," Trinity shares.
While foster care is often looked at in a negative light,Trinity doesn't feel that way about it.
"I think we are somewhat at an advantage because we get taught how to do things that not every teenager leaving their parents house gets taught," Trinity said.
Trinity now holds a job with Child Protective Services, helping out other youths within the Texas foster care system.
"I had always thought if there would ever be a job, I could tell my story and that I could help other youth and if I could get paid for it, of course that would be great. And it was just a miracle. It all just fell into place," Trinity said.
For more information about the available resources to children in the foster care system, you can call the Texas Youth Hotline at 1-800-210-2278.
Related Link - www.texasyouthconnection.org .
foster care system.Twenty-eight-year-old, Trinity spent half of her life in and out of foster homes. "I think fifteen, I can't remember but I moved around quite a bit," Trinity added.
Years ago, the state of Texas didn't provide children approaching adulthood with the opportunity to go to college. "I think some of the biggest changes have been the tuition fee waiver for Texas supported schools," Tifani Smith, Foster Care & Adoption Supervisor said.
On top of paying for college, the state also provides a transitional living allowance up to $1,000 dollars, aimed towards helping fosterchildren get established while transitioning into adulthood.
Although Trinity is now out of foster care, she is still eligible for the tuition fee waiver and is using it to study at Cisco Junior College.
"We feel like it's something that we've earned after all we've been through," Trinity adds. While it's great that college can be paid for, she admits that there were things missing from her childhood growing up in foster care.
"Such as jumping on trampolines, spending the night. I got to go on one date when I was in foster care when I was sixteen because, you know, the background checks, liability issues of the agency," Trinity shares.
While foster care is often looked at in a negative light,Trinity doesn't feel that way about it.
"I think we are somewhat at an advantage because we get taught how to do things that not every teenager leaving their parents house gets taught," Trinity said.
Trinity now holds a job with Child Protective Services, helping out other youths within the Texas foster care system.
"I had always thought if there would ever be a job, I could tell my story and that I could help other youth and if I could get paid for it, of course that would be great. And it was just a miracle. It all just fell into place," Trinity said.
For more information about the available resources to children in the foster care system, you can call the Texas Youth Hotline at 1-800-210-2278.
Related Link - www.texasyouthconnection.org .
