05/31/2026
As Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close and we recognize World Foster Day, we’re honored to highlight Bayley Lorenzen, a former foster youth whose story is one of resilience, hope, and advocacy.
Now pursuing his Master’s in Social Work, Bayley is passionate about creating a brighter future for foster youth. For him, Foster Youth Awareness Month is about education. California has the largest foster youth population in the nation, and Bayley believes that increasing awareness is the first step toward building public support, driving systemic change, and ensuring foster youth and foster families have access to the resources they need. When asked what foster youth need most from caring adults, Bayley shared two powerful qualities: empathy and patience. Empathy helps foster youth feel seen and understood without judgment, while patience acknowledges the impact of trauma and creates space for trust, healing, and meaningful relationships to grow.
What gives Bayley hope is the incredible community of people he has met along the way, from community members, social workers, nonprofit leaders, and policymakers who are all working to make a difference for foster youth. Knowing so many people share a commitment to supporting and advocating for youth in care reminds him that meaningful change is possible. Continued in the comments below 👇🏼
