Did You Know? (Aging out of Foster Care)

Did You Know?Did You Know?

I was homeless for almost 10 yearsI was homeless for almost 10 years And never went to school until age 11!And never went to school until age 11!

We could only We could only carry carry so much on so much on

our backs…our backs…

I only have two I only have two pictures from age pictures from age

2 to 112 to 11

Child protective Child protective services always gave services always gave me a place to call me a place to call home……home……

But they never lasted But they never lasted more than two weeks..more than two weeks..

We would always We would always be given back if my be given back if my mom could provide mom could provide

shelter..shelter..

Which was Which was always a hotel.always a hotel.

My siblings and I My siblings and I were taken away were taken away

because…..because…..

My mother had My mother had love for other love for other

thingsthings,,

Like drugs and Like drugs and alcohol…….alcohol…….

My mother lost all My mother lost all her parental rights her parental rights by the time I was by the time I was

1616

Love was Love was always a always a

temporary temporary thing for me…..thing for me…..

After never giving up….After never giving up….

I made it to I made it to the University the University of California,of California,

IrvineIrvine

And nowAnd now……

I get to go to I get to go to Paris this Paris this summer!!summer!!

All thanks too…..All thanks too…..

Caring Mentors Caring Mentors like like YOU!!YOU!!

I am so grateful because…I am so grateful because…

Did you know?Did you know?

There are approximately There are approximately 550,000 children in 550,000 children in Foster Care in the Foster Care in the

United States of AmericaUnited States of America

Children who are taken Children who are taken out of their home and out of their home and

moved around before or moved around before or during their high school during their high school education have a higher education have a higher

tendancy totendancy to Have many difficulties Have many difficulties

in life…in life…

The high school The high school completion rate completion rate for foster youth for foster youth

is 30 -40%is 30 -40%

Of all foster youth, 3 out Of all foster youth, 3 out of 10 become homeless of 10 become homeless after aging out of the after aging out of the

system, system,

And never make it And never make it past high school.past high school.

And….And….

Did you know?Did you know?

30,000 youth 30,000 youth ““age out” of foster age out” of foster

care every year…care every year…

70% of the prison population 70% of the prison population in the United States in the United States

Is comprised of Is comprised of graduates of the graduates of the

foster care system.foster care system.

Who are the nation’s Who are the nation’s children in foster care?children in foster care?

Of the 550,000 children in foster careOf the 550,000 children in foster care 32% are between ages 0 and 532% are between ages 0 and 5 28% are between ages 6 and 1228% are between ages 6 and 12

40% are between ages 13 and 2140% are between ages 13 and 21 42% experience 3 or more foster 42% experience 3 or more foster

care placements.care placements. 18% 18% (99,000)(99,000) of children are of children are

between ages of 13 and 21between ages of 13 and 21

What are the nation’s What are the nation’s foster children waiting for?foster children waiting for?

275,000 (50%) are waiting to be 275,000 (50%) are waiting to be unified with their birth familiesunified with their birth families

126,500 (23%) 126,500 (23%) are waiting to be are waiting to be

adoptedadopted

The leftover youth that do not The leftover youth that do not get adopted will “age out” on get adopted will “age out” on their 18their 18thth birthday birthday

At 7 a.m.!!At 7 a.m.!!

Where do the Where do the nation’s children go nation’s children go after leaving foster after leaving foster

care?care?

In 2005,In 2005, 286,005 children 286,005 children

exited foster care…….exited foster care…….

154, 442 (54%) were 154, 442 (54%) were returned to their parentsreturned to their parents

60,061 (21%) were adopted60,061 (21%) were adopted37,181 (13%) left to live 37,181 (13%) left to live with relativeswith relatives

22,881 (8%) “aged out” or left 22,881 (8%) “aged out” or left the sytem at 18the sytem at 18

11,440 (4%) left for other 11,440 (4%) left for other reasons reasons ran away, ran away, TransferredTransferredDiedDied

Information provided Information provided by: Adoption and by: Adoption and

Foster Care Analysis Foster Care Analysis and Reporting and Reporting

SystemsSystems AFCARSAFCARS

I created this slide I created this slide show for the New show for the New Beginnings first Beginnings first annual fund raising annual fund raising event. 12/10/2009event. 12/10/2009

This subject, and the This subject, and the suffering of children suffering of children is very close to my is very close to my heart. heart.

If we don’t protect If we don’t protect our children, we don’t our children, we don’t protect our future. protect our future. Our children are our Our children are our most important most important natural resource. natural resource.

______Anna Barbieri ______Anna Barbieri Hernandez_____Hernandez_____