WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, exited care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living.
Because access to culturally appropriate resources and opportunities are essential to the futures of youth exiting foster care, child welfare professionals must look for ways to collaboratively work with related professionals to engage youth in permanency planning, gain access to holistic supports, and help nurture important relationships to set them up for future success.
The NFCM 2024 campaign brings to the forefront one of Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg’s strategic priorities to build equity in the child welfare system.
This year’s theme, “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.” raises awareness about the important role that members from all parts of child welfare are responsible for when it comes to helping youth leave care with strengthened relationships, holistic supports, and opportunities. It also emphasizes the importance of involving young people early and throughout their time in foster care to help improve their experience while in care and improve long-term outcomes.
The success of NFCM depends on your efforts to engage your community and raise awareness about the need to invest in the lives of children and youth in foster care.
Every step you take to help raise awareness can make a difference.
Start planning now! Stay connected to the campaign by subscribing to email updates. If you have any questions, please contact us at NFCM@childwelfare.gov.
STATISTICS
The transition to adulthood is a time of great potential for all young people, but youth who exit foster care without permanence face increased barriers to a successful transition. View these statistics to learn more about this population:
There are over 391,000 children and youth in foster care. Approximately 20,000 youth age out of the foster care system each year without a permanent family.
Once in foster care, older youth spend more time in care than their peers who enter care before age 14.
In 2021, an estimated 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, left care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living.
Data shows that extended foster care is associated with improved access to services and positive outcomes for older youth ages 18 to 21. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of youth in extended foster care, through their 19th birthday, received more services, than older youth not in extended foster care.
In 2021, 58 percent of Black youth and 57 percent of Hispanic and Latino youth in foster care aged 16 years or older exited care without permanence. Foster youth who transition out of care without strong connections are more likely to become homeless, be diagnosed with mental health disorders, suffer from substance abuse, and become involved in the juvenile justice system.
It is estimated that 22 percent of employed youth who have experienced foster care do not earn enough to rise out of poverty; 71 percent earn less than $25,000 a year.
Between one-quarter and one-third of youth and young adults experiencing homeless had a history of foster care.