On social media, Kathrell Hicks shares everything from commentary and wig reviews to glimpses into her daily life. However, for a subset of her more than 72K , it’s her experience in foster care that resonates most. “When I first started sharing, I was surprised at how many people had been in the system,” she shared.
Hicks, who became of Florida at age 12, is among who cycle in and out of foster care each year. —despite being only 14% of the total population, . Hicks uses her platform to raise awareness about their challenges and advocate for change in the foster care system.
When children enter the foster care system, it’s because something has gone wrong at home. Add to their young lives the compounding challenges of institutional interventions, social workers’ placements, and an ever-shifting roster of guardians and group homes, and the resulting trauma is almost inevitable. Hicks, like many foster youth, grappled with anger and rebellion—understandably so.
“People would always tell me that I was mature for my age. I was smart, but I struggled immensely. I had trouble communicating my feelings and started lashing out,” she explained.
“I just felt like all the moving and constant change of environment made it hard.” With time, however, she would find her footing. “Once I hit high school, around my junior year, I calmed down a little and began paying more attention to the girls around me,” Hicks recalled.
“I started to see how our upbringing and t.
