The Problem

The foster care system is meant to provide temporary and permanent placement for children who have been abandoned, abused, neglected, or in a situation where there is no adult to properly care for them.
 

Of the 437,465 children in the foster care system in the United States,
 
34,202 between the ages of 17 and 20 are exiting
3,378 are still waiting to be adopted at 17 years old
 
You might say, “The foster care system has resources available for these young people, so what’s the problem?”
 
 

PROBLEM

 
AVAILABILITY and ELIGIBILITY 

 
These resources include housing, life skills assistance, and money for basic essentials. But, having available resources is not enough. These aging-out youth have to fulfill eligibility requirements to receive these resources.
 
Have you ever taken a look at the eligibility requirements
for these aging-out youth?
 
Many websites put a happy face on aging out, but this group of young people are not smiling.
 

Our aging-out youth are being taken out of their foster homes and placed into group homes or homeless shelters that are meant for adults who may have drug problems, mental health issues, or violent tendencies.
 
Housing may be available, but many of these facilities are no place for our young people or have waiting lists that are more than a year long.
 
 

PROBLEM

 
HOUSING versus EDUCATION

 
The greatest risk factors associated with our aging-out youth are homelessness and education cessation.

More and more young people are turning 18 while still seniors in high school.

Our aging-out youth are having to drop out of school to gain employment so they can avoid homelessness.

Our aging-out youth are choosing education but are ending up homeless.
 
 

What if YOU had to choose?
 
 

Our aging-out youth should have the opportunity to maintain whatever stability they have in their lives so they can, not just transition into adulthood, but thrive in it.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Data retrieved from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Fiscal Year 2019 Estimates as of June 23, 2020 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau