SJN Rise Above

BRISTOL, RI | “Raven has never had the opportunity to participate in any sports or after school activities due to financial constraints,” said her foster parents. “Being placed in a foster home in a new city has taken an emotional toll on her.”

For many youth in the foster care system, this is the reality. Multiple home changes, without the familiarity of something so small as an extracurricular activity.

“Until signing up for karate, she slept a good portion of the day and in her own mind had nothing to look forward to,” said her foster parents. “Now immediately after the first lesson, she is dedicated to getting in shape and practicing karate at home to be prepared for the next class.”

Programs such as Rise Above offer familiarity and what it looks like for youth to have normalcy. Additionally, being active in extra curricular activities fosters positive social skills, improved mental health, and an enhanced self-esteem. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, participation in extracurricular activities can lead to success […], and the availability of these to students of backgrounds becomes an important equity issue. These activities are critical in transforming academic learning into practical, real-world skills that these youth will carry throughout their transition into adulthood.

The Problem
Within the foster care system, youth often experience a lack of routine, stability, and consistency. The often sudden uprooting from their homes, schools, friends, and family can leave youth feeling vulnerable and isolated. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, nearly 40% of foster care children and youth experience more than two placements each year. This, along with potential other traumas that youth endure entering the system, leads to mental health issues among foster care youth.

Studies conducted by Medicaid show that up to 57% of adolescents in foster care meet the criteria for a mental disorder. These factors often negatively impact foster youth’s academic and social performance in school. With this, it leads to foster youth not having the proper social channels to thrive. According to Annie E. Casey Foundation, by age 21, only 70% of foster youth have a high school diploma or GED. Studies have also found that very few former foster youth have the proper channels to attend 4-year college programs, with only around 4% obtaining a degree.

With all of these barriers placed in front of former and current foster youths, the importance of extracurricular activities also gets completely pushed to the side. Extracurricular activities, such as team sports, music lessons, or clubs are essential to the growth and development of children. According to First Tee Silicon Valley, students who participate in activities outside the classroom experience notable gains in academic success, character building, social development, and community involvement.

In most cases, parental guardians pay for any costs that are associated with these activities, but for foster youths who may not have this support, they become inaccessible. While foster parents are permitted to enroll and send youths in their care to extracurricular activities, it is often unrealistic. School clubs require fees, team sports can require the purchase of uniforms or equipment, and music and art lesson prices are only going up. Although foster parents receive financial support from the State of Rhode Island’s Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), it is not enough to cover activities, especially those that are for an extended period of time.

Based on all of this, it is adamant that foster youths should have access to extracurricular activities as they promote social development, improve mental health, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Organizations such as Fostering Healthy Futures use group and skill-based activities, which finds t

Organizations such as Fostering Healthy Futures have incorporated group and skill-based activities into their programs, with some research suggesting that youths who participated in group sessions may experience fewer mental health issues and improved self-esteem. In fact, the American Psychological Association advocates for expanding group therapy and structured social interventions, which align perfectly with adolescent socioemotional needs. Key findings from recent studies and meta-analyses show that these benefits occur across several formats, such as group psychology, team sports, and school-based initiatives.



What is Rise Above?
The Rise Above Foundation is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that provides funding for enrichment activities and opportunities to children in foster care. They aim to improve mental, social, and academic well-being, providing funds for sports, music lessons, or even things such as prom expenses to provide foster youth with normalcy.

According to Cassie Giardina, Director of Programs and Outreach at Rise Above, the organization works closely with DCF offices, foster parents, and community organizations across Massachusetts to ensure youth know these resources are available. “We try to keep it very simple and accessible, straightforward, with as little red tape as possible.” This allows social workers, foster parents, mentors, and even youth themselves to apply for funding.

Since its implementation, Rise Above has served more than 18,000 youth in foster care in Massachusetts. In the 2024 – 2025 year, they served 2,863 youth with 35% of their finances going towards sports activities, 33% for enrichment activities, and 11% for education focused activities. Rise above heavily relies on donations and community volunteers. They also create care packages, and each is made to match each youth’s needs and wishes. By funding these wishes, Rise Above wants to create positive experiences for youth in foster care.

Youth are able to get involved with the program by submitting an application with support or approval of a Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) social worker or through assistance from foster parents, teachers, or other supportive authority figures.

Participants who are eligible for Rise Above programs include children who are in the physical care and custody of DCF in Massachusetts, including youth in foster care, independent living programs, group homes, and other residential placements. Additionally, young adults who are 18 years of age or older who have voluntarily signed themselves with the Massachusetts DCF services are also eligible.

How does it work?
The application process can be submitted not only by Massachusetts DCF social workers, but also by the youth themselves, foster parents, or other support they may have. Once submitted, applications are reviewed by the Rise Above team on a rolling basis. Decisions are made by considering multiple factors including the availability of community resources, prior requests, availability of funding, and the nature of the requested activity.

Giardina explained that requests can range from sports teams and art classes to driver’s education, gym memberships, musical instruments, prom dresses, class trips, and college textbooks. “The spectrum is pretty wide,” she said, emphasizing that the organization focuses on giving foster youth opportunities many of their peers already have access to.

Additionally, there are other qualifications that the youth has to meet along with being eligible, which include that they have obtained their high school diploma or equivalent, they’ve spent time in foster care as a youth, they are still engaged with services through the Massachusetts DCF, and they are currently furthering their education in any way.

If the youth qualifies, there are a wide range of opportunities that the program offers. From art or writing classes to apartment setups, there is something for everyone:

• Music, Martial Arts, dance, gymnastics and other lessons
• Musical instruments rentals and purchase
• Art and writing classes/supplies
• Little league, soccer, football, hockey, basketball and other sports
• BMX, Bicycles, Skateboarding, Snowboarding 
• Computers, mp3 players
• Theme Park Admission tickets
• Class trips, family vacations
• Concert and sporting event tickets
• Prom clothes, tickets, and photos
• Religious/cultural celebrations
• Graduation clothes
• Post secondary education and training 
• Apartment set ups
• Special Requests

Evidence of Impact
What sets the Rise Above foundation apart from other programs is its focus on enrichment and engagement. Rise Above creates access to opportunities that many youth in the foster care system simply do not have access to. There are barriers within the DCF system, and youth often miss out on social enrichment and activities that are considered normal for their peers.

“Mental health is arguably probably one of the most important ways that we’re making an impact,” Giardina said. She shared that Rise Above regularly receives testimonials from youth explaining how extracurricular opportunities have positively affected their emotional wellbeing.

One youth wrote, “Without this, I wouldn’t have an outlet,” after Rise Above funded boxing classes for them. Another youth thanked the organization for helping pay for prom expenses, writing, “Thanks for making me not have to worry about what I’m gonna have to wear on this really special day.”

Research supports the need for providing access to enrichment activities for youth in the foster care system. According to a 2020 article published on Children and Youth Services Review 2020 article published on Children and Youth Services Review, approximately 60% of foster youth who participated in at least one extracurricular activity, and those who participated were significantly more likely to graduate high school. Overall, youth who were involved in a club or organization were twice as likely to graduate compared to those who did not have access to activities.

These findings highlight the importance of access to extracurricular opportunities, and supporting programs such as Rise Above, which aim to increase engagement and participation. “It is the opportunities to have ‘ordinary’ experiences that can be fundamental to the development course of young people,” said Mary Elizabeth Collins, a scholar from the Boston University School of Social Work. “Research studies have consistently found this to be the case. Such opportunities have a central role in child and adolescent development that can have numerous effects on creating a positive life trajectory.”

Giardina also shared that the organization regularly receives testimonials from youth who explain how these opportunities positively impacted their mental health. One youth wrote to Rise Above thanking them for paying for boxes classes, explaining that without it they “wouldn’t have an outlet.” Other youth have shared appreciation for experiences such as attending prom without worrying about affording a dress or participating in activities they otherwise would never have been able to try.

Limitations
Although Rise Above serves many foster youth, there are a few limitations that come with it. Since Rise Above is a Massachusetts based organization, it is limited to those who live in the state. While there are similar organizations that aim to provide funding in certain areas, none are quite the same. Rise Above provides experiences, opportunities, and necessities that make youth feel in. They are given the opportunity to have a new prom dress, join the sport they always wanted to try after school, and enjoy experiences that would otherwise not be accessible.

“There’s more need than we’re able to cover,” Giardina said. “Out of the 9,000 kids roughly in the care and custody of DCF in Massachusetts, we serve 3,000 kids a year.”

While programs and resources like these are important for making foster care a more stable and supportive environment, they do not replace therapy or broader reform within the foster care system. Financial aid from the government, Rise Above, and similar organizations should be combined with resources like therapy and other support services to help youth process their experiences and develop healthy ways to cope.

Organizations such as Rise Above often run into roadblocks to find the proper funding to ensure that these vulnerable populations have resources available to them. While the parameters for receiving proper support requires that there not be outstanding government funding available to go towards these resources, making some individuals ineligible, it is still a large financial undertaking that requires donations, support, and a lot of budgeting to ensure the maximum number of youth can benefit from the program.

Giardina also explained that awareness is another barrier, and that even when resources exist, foster parents or social workers may not know they are available. She noted that social workers are often handling crises and larger caseloads, making it difficult to focus on preventative support such as extracurricular opportunities, despite the positive impact these activities can have on youth development and mental health.

Broader Implications
Rise Above demonstrates that mental health support for foster youth does not always have to come in the form of clinical treatment or therapy. Opportunities that may seem small, such as attending prom or participating in a senior field trip, can provide youth with a sense of stability, inclusion, and normalcy. By giving foster youth access to the same experiences as their peers, programs like Rise Above can positively impact their mental health and overall well-being.

If organizations similar to Rise Above were more widely available, many more youth would be positively impacted and gain the benefits of this funding. Other programs provide partial funding for more essential services and activities, but Rise Above places value in the experience and personal development of foster youth. This ensures they feel a part of the community and get to experience the typical things with their peers is imperative for mental health.

“Rise Above paid karate lessons, but more importantly gave a kid that was used to disappointment, something to finally be excited about,” said Raven’s foster parents.

Writers and Editors: Rachel Cabral, Emma O’Neill, Kayley Dias, Meghan Harvey, Macayla McDonald

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