Foster Youth Organization Hires Leader

Indianapolis-based nonprofit Indiana Connected By 25, which serves foster youth who are aging out of the system, has selected Brent Kent to serve as the organization’s new chief executive officer (CEO). Kent was formerly the state director of StudentsFirst Indiana, where he successfully pushed for stronger charter school accountability and teacher preparation program reforms.

Why Intervention is Important

Outcomes for foster youth are dramatically worse compared to youth with parental support. Only 58 percent will graduate high school. More than one in five will become homeless after age 18, and one in four will be in the criminal justice system within two years of leaving foster care. Indiana Connected By 25 provides programs and advocacy to ensure Indiana foster youth make successful transitions into adulthood.

“Foster children enter the system by no fault of their own, and the odds are stacked against them the rest of their lives,” said Kent. “Every year in Indiana, about 500 young people transition out of the system without permanent families and must make it on their own. We are dedicated to advocating for this invisible population and providing the educational, financial, and social support they need to become thriving, independent adults.

“Research shows that when we help these young adults gain fundamental skills they need to succeed, it saves tax dollars and improves our local economies by millions of dollars each year.”

Kent recently completed a one-year fellowship with 50CAN focused on education policy, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. He is currently the public policy chair for the United Way of Central Indiana’s Emerging Leaders Steering Committee and a volunteer tutor for Indy School on Wheels. He is a graduate of Wabash College and a student at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University.

Kate Shepherd Communications congratulates Brent on his new role and is proud to have Indiana Connected By 25 as a new client!  If you’d like to donate to the organization please visit this webpage.