John Payne sits on the bed of his new apartment at East Ridge Residence, a new independent living option for former foster home residents who choose to continue to receive state services after turning 18. / Contributed photo by Kristin MooreDonning special T-shirts and waving pom-poms, residents of East Ridge Residence senior living community celebrated the recent arrival of a new neighbor – an 18-year-old who’s aged out of foster care.
John Payne is living at East Ridge Residence through Victory Lap, a new model for independent living the state recently began offering to youth formerly in its custody who choose to participate in its Extended Foster Care program. He is the first local Victory Lap participant.
Having worked in senior housing for 15 years, program founder Rosemary Ramsey knew that assisted living facilities are always looking for ways to increase occupancy. The Nashville resident also volunteered at Monroe Harding, a Nashville facility offering services to young people in state custody or foster care. Her familiarity with the needs of both sides led her to develop the Victory Lap model, she said.
Victory Lap helps fill a gap in services for the 18- to 21-year-old population, said Sarah Elghalban, director of the local Partnership for Families, Children and Adults’ River City Youth Collective and Building Stable Lives programs, which provide services to 13- to 24-year-olds previously in state custody. After hearing Ramsey speak about the program model at a meeting in Nashville, she decided it was something Partnership clients could benefit from.
“It’s a good marriage of service programs,” she said.