Friends of Foster Care urges expanded tutoring, enrichment and post‑care support for Portsmouth youth

Audra Bullock, founder and CEO of Friends of Foster Care, told the Portsmouth City Council at its May 27 work session that her nonprofit provides one‑on‑one tutoring, college and career coaching, YMCA memberships, enrichment activities and post‑care support to young people who have been in foster care and asked the city and partner agencies to increase referrals and coordination.

The request came as Bullock described national and state outcome gaps for youth with child welfare involvement and presented local program results and funding needs. "We serve 60 youth approximately a year in foster care," Bullock said, describing tutoring as the organization's largest program. She told council members the group provides services free to families and social‑service agencies and follows youth up to age 26 when they have aged out of the system.

Bullock framed the need with data…