At the age of 12-years-old, Janice was removed from her home with two brothers due to physical and continuous sexual abuse. She transitioned in and out of emergency shelters, foster homes, and relative placements and attended over 10 different schools throughout her youth. After facing even more sexual abuse at her temporary placement with her biological mother, Janice finally found her saving grace at her seventh placement with a foster care family who treated her like their own daughter. Janice ran away from this family at the age of 17 introducing her to even more experiences that have shaped her into the now wife, mother, and grandmother she is today. Janice is a day habilitation director with a strong passion in helping others successfully transition out of the foster care system.

If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at [email protected]! You deserve to be heard. 

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Credits:

• Janice Stoner
• Recording team: Katherine Serrano & Sarah Smith
• Editor: Katherine Serrano
• Interviewer: Sarah Smith
• Music Credit:
  • Nostalgia” by Tobu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fFMjGs2mvs

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation