How labels in foster care shape children’s lives

By: Addison Staats

Outlets: West Virginia Watch

Published: April 23, 2026

Words: 758

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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When most people hear “foster youth,” they picture someone troubled, angry and doomed to fail. I know this because I was a foster youth, and spent years being seen through that lens. The truth behind the stereotype is much more complicated. I entered foster care at age 8 after years of chaos, poverty and caring for my younger brothers because our parents couldn’t. Survival shaped me, not malice or apathy.

Adults judged our “bad behavior” …

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