Austin Hooper returns to Atlanta to continue his mission beyond football
· Yahoo Sports
After spending the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta, the two-time Pro Bowler has returned to the Falcons for what he describes as a "full-circle moment". He's coming back to the city that became home after he was drafted in 2016. But while Hooper is focused on helping Atlanta win on gameday, he's equally committed to making an impact off the field.
Through the Austin Hooper Foundation, Hooper works to support young people aging out of the foster care system, a population he says is often overlooked. The foundation focuses on mentorship, life skills development, mental health awareness and connecting young adults with resources as they transition into independence.
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The need is significant. In an interview with 11Alive, Hooper pointed to the challenges facing young people who age out of foster care, noting that nearly half experience homelessness and nearly half face incarceration within 18 months. Research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that many foster youth face housing instability as they transition to adulthood. At the same time, studies cited by Casey Family Programs and researchers at Harvard Medical School found that former foster youth are nearly twice as likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder as U.S. combat veterans. Hooper said learning those realities helped shape the Austin Hooper Foundation's focus on emotional wellness, mentorship and mental health support.
The foundation has partnered with the Artem Vale Foundation and is working alongside the national organization Stand Together to expand resources and opportunities for young people in Atlanta and beyond.
"It's more powerful than scoring a touchdown," Hooper said of the relationships he's built with foster youth through his work.
As he begins his second chapter with the Falcons, Hooper says he's grateful for the chance to wear the Dirty Bird on his helmet once again while continuing to invest in a community that has given so much to him.