Welcome to FootSteps To The Future!

In 2001, Judi Woods, founder of FootSteps To The Future, Inc., became aware of a very troubling situation in which she discovered that the system that was created to protect our children was in many cases ultimately failing them. Did you know that on the very day that a child in foster care turns eighteen that they are "aged out" of the system? That's right, whatever home life they may have had up to that point—good, bad or indifferent—is suddenly taken away. Where they go and what they do next can be a daunting mystery. When already stressed and at risk teens find themselves faced with overwhelming responsibilities for which they may be ill prepared, too many of these teens succumb to drug and alcohol abuse, unwanted pregnancy, unemployment and other social misfortune which can ironically land them in another dreadful situation, the criminal-justice system.

The more Judi learned about it, the bleaker the picture grew. Finally, frustrated by the lack of viable alternatives offered to these children—in particular the teenaged girls who are so vulnerable in this scenario—she set out to create one. Together with several other like-minded women in her community, Judi has launched a program, Footsteps to the Future, dedicated to assisting young women in Southwest Florida as they make their huge transition from foster care to the real world. The goal is to identify teenage girls in foster care, approaching independent living and match them with empowered, wise and compassionate women in the community who can provide life coaching and mentoring.

"There is no doubt about the power of mentoring and the immensely
positive impact and far-reaching implications that it has on the
development of our youth at risk. There is perhaps no greater gift that
can be given, no greater legacy than to hand down guidance, support,
knowledge and kindness to a young person. There is no greater
investment in the future of our world! Our children are our future
and the responsibility for this future rests within each of us. If we
look honestly we will understand that there is no such thing as
"their" children, they are all "our" children. And it does take a
village to raise a child," says Judi.

"FootSteps To The Future's goal is to inspire and encourage
these girls to recognize their personal power and potential,
to become self-sufficient and ultimately become leaders and
role models in their own right. To that end we have developed
a unique one-to-one mentoring program, drawing upon the
wisdom and compassion of a growing list of successful women
who volunteer their time and talents to improving the lives of
'our girls,' as we love to call them."

If this sounds like something you'd like to be involved with,
please read more about our mentoring program. If you are
interesting in volunteering your time and expertise on any level
to help us change lives one child at a time contact us.