We believe everyone deserves the chance to find their passions and build upon their strengths, no matter from where they came. If you were in foster care or know somebody who has “graduated” from the system, please read our pages about education, employment, healthcare, money, state resources and resources for non-profit organizations available. You can also learn more about the journeys that others have been through and how they’ve overcome their trials.
We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and one of the most important things we can do is listen.
When an American child turns 18 or 21, it is usually a cause for celebrating newly found independence. Whether they stay at home with family and friends or head off to college, many young adults look forward to their special day.
But every year in the United States, over 20,000 teenagers in our foster care system turn 18 or 21, and they aren’t celebrating. Regardless of which state the youth lives in, teenagers in the foster care system “age out” at either 18 or 21. This aging out process happens when the young adult must leave foster care since the state is no longer obligated to care for them.
The government has determined they are now independent, but youths aging out are FAR FROM FREE!
Statistics About Aged Out Youth
According to the National Foster Youth Institute, the statistics about aging out are utterly heartbreaking.
When foster teenagers reach the age of 18, one in five will be immediately homeless. One out of two will be and continue to be unemployed by the time they reach 24. Young women coming out of foster care have a 70 percent chance of becoming pregnant before the age of 21. Over a quarter of the young men and women aging out suffer from one form or another of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Of these “independent” young Americans, less than three percent will ever achieve a college degree. This number is in stark contrast to the 40 percent average for the rest of the country.
Imagine being 18 years old and suddenly being on your own. You might not have earned a high school diploma or GED, you may lack proper communication skills, and you most likely have no job history. Then the day comes when you are no longer eligible to get help for housing, food, or medical care under the foster care system.
Life is hard enough without being forced into the world with no money, no job, and no lifeline. Is it any wonder why a large number of emancipated and aging out youths end up living on the streets? Too many are missing basic skills required to adjust to our adult society. For too many, there is no place to call home. The transition from foster care into the “real world” is sudden and jarring for these young people who now must survive on their own.
While national guidelines exist, benefits for these youths often differ from state to state. Many states hardly live up to the full extent of the promises they make.
Health and Education
It is more important than ever that our country provides these young adults a proper education, so they can reach their goals and truly be free. Our next generation deserves to thrive with fulfilling careers and lead happy, healthy lives. Real-world lessons can have a substantial effect on the futures of those about to age out of the foster care system. Some of these include practicing safe sex, avoiding substance abuse, applying for work, managing money, and seeking counseling for mental disorders, including PTSD.
Our foster youth share something in common with the rest of the young people throughout the country. At some point, they will need to figure out who they are, what they want to do, and how they can get there. The difference is that teenagers with stable homes can count on others to help them. Parents, siblings, and friends can help answer life’s questions. Aged out foster youth quickly learn to rely on themselves completely, which causes loneliness, confusion, and fear.
It is our responsibility, as a community, to provide the guidance and support that these young people need to help them work toward healthy and meaningful life goals.