October 22, 2025

Can you remember the first Halloween costume your parents made or bought for you? Most of us remember walking in school parades in a witch costume or dressing up like a vampire for trick-or-treating. But for many youth in the foster care system, these memories may not exist.

By the time youth arrive at Plummer Youth Promise, they have experienced an average of more than 7 placements. This means that the child or teen has moved between different homes and child welfare programs more than 7 times in their life, each time representing a real, traumatic moment where childhood was disrupted.

They need to quickly adapt to a new environment after every placement, process feelings of missing their loved ones, and recenter themselves while interacting with new caregivers. Moving around so many times and processing trauma makes it feel impossible for youth in foster care to have a normal childhood.

The usual autumn traditions like apple picking, joining a school sports team, or trick-or-treating with siblings do not always happen for youth in foster care. Their worlds are filled with uncertainty as they navigate feelings of abandonment, anger, confusion, and the sadness of missing their family members.

This is why we emphasize the importance of providing normal childhood experiences for youth in our care.

During the holidays, we ask the youth how they would like to celebrate—and of course, this includes Halloween! Last year we brought the youth to Canobie Lake Park’s SCREEEMFEST to experience the thrill of haunted houses and the excitement of the roller coasters.

One resident said it was his first time at an amusement park. After seeing how fast the rides go and the height of the tracks, he felt nervous about trying it out. Our team encouraged him to conquer his fears, and he had a blast on the Yankee Cannonball!

Even though the youth at Winter Island are older, ranging from 13 to 22, they also enjoy dressing up in costumes for Halloween. It brings us joy when they ask us to help them buy a costume for the spooky season. You can never be too old to have Halloween spirit!

For some youth, this is a way to relive a happy time as they recall fond memories of walking in their own neighborhoods and going door to door for candy. For others, it’s a chance to participate in the Salem Halloween festivities or attend their haunted school dance!

No matter their reason for wanting to wear a costume, it’s important to let the youth celebrate Halloween however they would like. These joyful memories play a meaningful role in helping them connect with their peers now and in the future, as they look back and reflect on their childhood.

By supporting Plummer, you are helping us unlock the magic of childhood and make these experiences accessible for youth in the foster care system. Whether it’s a night out in Salem, trick-or-treating in full costume or running through a haunted house at a theme park, these are fond memories that the youth will carry for the rest of their lives.