Through FamiliesFirst Network’s Young Adult Services program, young people like Ja’Nyrah are building independent paths forward after foster care.
At just 21 years old, Ja’Nyrah is already finding success on her own terms.
A full‑time student at Pensacola State College, she recently earned her associate degree in business entrepreneurship and is preparing to transfer to the University of West Florida. At the same time, she runs her own business, 22AND4BEAUTY, a growing hair styling and beauty brand that keeps her schedule booked solid.
“I work 13 to 15 hour days,” Ja’Nyrah said. “I’m booked all month.”
Her ultimate goal to open beauty salons and supply stores across Florida.
“I love the fact that I’m in control,” she said. “Maybe because of my background and what I’ve been through, I don’t like being in situations where I’m not in control.”
Growing up too soon
Ja’Nyrah’s early childhood looked like what many would consider typical.
“I was in cheerleading. My mom coached. My brother played sports,” she said. “We always had everything nice, living like average middle‑class people.”
But that stability began to change when her older brother went to prison.
“After that, everything went downhill,” she said. “My mom struggled with substance misuse. It became very unstable for us growing up.”
At one point, Ja’Nyrah and her siblings were living in extremely harsh conditions, isolated and without basic necessities.
“We lived in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “The house had no central heat or air. It was an abandoned house in the middle of the woods. No food, no water.”
By the time she was a teenager, Ja’Nyrah was taking on adult responsibilities, caring for her younger siblings and trying to navigate an unpredictable home life.
“My siblings were 9 and 10, and I was 15,” she said. “We were on our own, surviving on our own.”
After experiencing physical abuse and neglect, Ja’Nyrah made the difficult decision to speak up.
“I was raised not to say anything negative about my family,” she said. “But I was tired of what was going on. I knew if we wanted something different, we had to speak up.”
That decision led to her and her siblings entering foster care.
Choosing family
Throughout her time in care, Ja’Nyrah was placed with relatives and family friends.
She made a choice to stay with her younger siblings, no matter the circumstances.
“I wanted to be with my siblings,” she said.
Her commitment to them remains a driving force in her life today.
“I’ll always be there for them,” she said. “I go to all their events—concerts, track meets, everything.”
Finding her path
Ja’Nyrah aged out of foster care shortly after graduating high school and moved out on her own just months after turning 18.
She didn’t originally plan to go to college.
“I didn’t have it in my bucket list,” she said. “But I realized I had the opportunity, and a lot of people don’t.”
That decision opened the door to a future she hadn’t imagined.
“I’ve flourished,” she said. “I didn’t expect it at all.”
Through FamiliesFirst Network’s Young Adult Services and Postsecondary Education Services and Support program, Ja’Nyrah received support to help her navigate life after foster care, balancing school, work and independence.
She quickly found her passion in business.
“Not everyone can be a business person,” she said. “You have to have discipline, drive and motivation. I’m one of the people who can do it.”
Turning passion into purpose
Ja’Nyrah’s business started when she was just 14, styling hair for friends and family. Today, she manages a growing client base in Pensacola, often working long days to meet demand.
Her work is about more than business. It’s about impact.
“I love making people feel beautiful,” she said. “I love helping people feel good about themselves.”
That passion, combined with her ambition, has fueled her growth into an entrepreneur.
“When I make it, it’s going to be inspiring,” she said.
Support that makes a difference
As Ja’Nyrah navigates adulthood, she credits the support around her for helping her stay focused and continue moving forward.
She especially values the balance of independence and guidance she receives from her case manager, Howard Earlington.
“I love him because he cares but doesn’t overstep,” she said. “He gives me the room to come to him for help when I need it.”
For young adults aging out of foster care, that kind of support makes all the difference.
Building what’s next
Last year, FamiliesFirst Network served 109 young adults like Ja’Nyrah, providing life skills training, educational support and resources to help them succeed independently.
For Ja’Nyrah, that support has helped her build something meaningful, not just for herself, but for the people she cares about most.
“I want financial freedom,” she said. “I want to be there for my siblings.”
As she continues her education and grows her business, she is doing exactly that—creating stability, opportunity and a future on her own terms.
Help young adults build their future
Young adults aging out of foster care face one of life’s biggest transitions, often without the support systems many others rely on.
With your help, more young adults like Ja’Nyrah can build independent, successful futures.