10 Supportive Relationships Every Young Adult Needs
Contributed by Savithna Welihida — Speak Up for Kids Student Intern, a rising junior from Los Angeles dedicated to academics, dance, and public speaking, balancing honors coursework with family time and community involvement.
Overview
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are in one of the most critical stages of their lives. This is the time they begin transitioning into adulthood, often through raw and challenging experiences. While some young people may go through this stage smoothly, others, more specifically those in foster care, face a more difficult path. Teens and young adults who are still part of the foster care system or have recently aged out often experience a rough and uncertain transition. During this time, what they need most are strong, supportive relationships where they feel loved, valued, and understood. Here are 10 relationships every foster youth should incorporate into their lives to find that support.
A Trusted and Dedicated Adult
This person doesn’t have to be a biological parent or family member…it could be a teacher, coach, mentor, or even a neighbor that can provide help.
They should make you feel emotionally safe, respected, and comfortable in being yourself.
They are someone who listens without judgment and takes the time to understand your background and needs.
A trusted adult supports your decisions and goals, even if they’re different from their own.
They offer reliable guidance when you’re making important choices.
2. Peer Mentors
These are mentors who have been through similar experiences, such as being in the foster care system and aging out themselves.
Because they understand your situation from their similar experiences, it’s easier to connect, communicate, and feel understood.
Since mentors have personally experienced the emotional, social, and financial challenges of leaving the system, they can offer genuine and practical advice.
They help guide you in setting goals, building confidence, and finding opportunities that simulate your journey.
3. Therapist/Counselor
A professional who helps you understand and cope with your emotions, trauma, and stress.
Have the opportunity to talk about what you're going through without any judgement.
Helps you build better self-awareness and coping skills.
Can guide you through anxiety, depression, identity struggles, and healing from past experiences.
4. Peers
These are people who are going through similar life transitions as you, mostly aging out of foster care.
Being around peers who are also experiencing the same process can make you feel less alone and more understood.
Friendships with peers can feel like chosen family or a support circle.
You can lean on each other emotionally, share resources, or figure things out together.
Encouragement from someone going through the same thing can be powerful and healing.
5. A Spiritual Guide
For young adults who have religious or spiritual beliefs, this relationship can offer deep comfort and grounding.
A spiritual guide could be a pastor, monk, imam, priest, elder, or trusted faith leader.
They help you find purpose, hope, and inner strength, especially during uncertain times.
Not everyone connects through religion, but for those who do, faith can become a powerful source of peace and stability.
6. Online Support Community
In today’s digital world, online communities can offer real connection.
Social media groups, forums, and support pages can help you feel seen and understood.
You can find people your age who’ve also aged out of foster care or faced similar struggles.
These spaces often share resources, emotional support, and personal stories that inspire healing.
It’s a way to express yourself, ask for advice, or simply feel less alone when no one is around physically.
7.Positive Foster Parent
Not every foster care experience is positive but when it is, that connection can be a valuable moment.
A former foster parent who treated you with respect, patience, and love can continue to be a trusted adult in your life.
Even after aging out, this person might still check in, or offer advice.
They can provide a sense of stability, structure, and belonging.
8. Sponsors
They might help pay for school, connect you to a job, or support you in housing, training, or legal processes.
Sponsors often believe in your potential even before you fully do; they will always be committed to help you.
9. Organizations
Organizations can become lifelines, offering more than just programs, but real community.
They provide access to housing, food, education, mental health, job training, and more through consistent staff, mentors, and volunteers.
Many organizations have people who genuinely care and become long-term supporters or guides.
10. Self-Awareness and Self-Compassion
One of the most important relationships you’ll ever have is the one you build with yourself.
Self-awareness helps you understand your emotions, triggers, strengths, and needs.
Self-compassion allows you to forgive yourself, take breaks, and grow without shame.
You become your own steady foundation no matter what’s happening around you.
Final Thoughts
Transitioning into adulthood is never easy, but for youth aging out of foster care, the journey can be especially complex. By intentionally building and nurturing these 10 supportive relationships, young adults can create a network that offers guidance, encouragement, and stability through life’s ups and downs. No one should have to face this stage alone—and with the right people in their corner, foster youth can step into their future with confidence, hope, and the knowledge that they are truly cared for.
