Foster Care Information
The Faces of Foster Care
Child welfare issues arise in families of every race, ethnicity, culture, and age group. Even though research shows that there is no difference in the incidence of abuse and neglect according to racial group, children of color comprise a disproportionate percentage of youth in foster care.
|
 |
The Consequences
Research shows that young people in foster care are far more likely than their peers in the general population to endure homelessness, poverty, compromised health, unemployment, incarceration and other adversities after they leave the foster care system.
The Priority
Older youth are in most urgent need of attention. Nearly half of the young people in foster care are over the age of 10. Each year, more than 20,000 young Americans age out of foster care, most without the appropriate resources, skills or options they will need to live independently.
The Future
If nothing changes by the Year 2020
- Nearly 14 million children will be confirmed as victims of abuse and neglect;
- 22,500 children will die of abuse or neglect, most before their fifth birthday;
- 9,000,000 more children will experience the foster care system;
- More than 300,000 children will age out of the foster care system, most without the support they need to become successful adults; and,
- 75,000 former foster youth, who aged out of the system, can expect to experience homelessness.
print
email