“It’s just wrong, cruel, and should be considered a crime when Politicians refuse to acknowledge the Foster Care problem. It’s a disgrace that Politicians support a system that provides convicted felons with millions a year in cash and more in support and services to reenter society, and, yet, allow an 18-year-old Foster Child to become a homeless statistic on their 18th birthday.”
Bad Politico 2021
What does it mean to age out on your 18th birthday from the US Foster System?
- 19% will become instantly homeless
- 50% will be gainfully employed as 24-year old adults
- 97% will never earn a college degree
- 70% of girls will be pregnant before they turn 21
- 25% will suffer from PTSD
- 50% will be incarcerated within two years
- will not graduate from high school and fail to pass their GED
- 50% will develop a substance dependence
- 75% of women will receive government benefits to meet basic needs
- 33% of men will receive government benefits to meet basic needs
- 35% of the homeless are adult victims of the American Foster System
- 80% of death row inmates are former foster kids
- 74% of foster kids spend their adult lives in US prisons
- 60% of child sex trafficking victims come from foster care
Despite all these challenges, 70% of Foster Children say they would like to attend college.
