Between 2000 and 2010, more than 260,000 young people  aged out of foster care [1]. In federal fiscal year 2008, more than 29,000 teenagers aged out of foster care [2]. Many of these young people have not benefited from typical growing-up experiences that teach self-sufficiency skills, nor do they have family and community networks that help them make successful transitions to adulthood.

Data indicate that young people who transition from foster care without the needed network of support experience very poor outcomes at a much higher rate than their peers in the general population:

• More than one in five will become homeless after age 18 [3]
• Only 58 percent will graduate high school by age 19 (compared to 87 percent of all 19 year olds) [4]
• 71 percent of young women are pregnant by 21, facing higher rates of unemployment, criminal conviction, public assistance, and involvement in the child welfare system [5]
• At the age of 24, only half are employed [6]
• Fewer than 3 percent will earn a college degree by age 25 (compared to 28 percent of all 25 year olds [7]
• One in four will be involved in the justice system within two years of leaving the foster care system [8]

1. Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

2. Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

3. Casey Family Programs. (1998). Northwest foster care alumni study. Seattle, WA. p. 37

4. Courtney, M.E., and Dworsky, A. (2005). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 19. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children. p. 22

5. Pecora, P.J., Kessler, R.C., Williams, J., O’Brien, K., Downs, A.C., English, D., White, J., Hiripi, E., White, C.R., Wiggins, T., and Holmes, K. (2005). Improving family foster care: Findings from the Northwest foster care alumni study. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs. p. 1Courtney, M.E., Hook, J.L., and Lee, J.S. Distinct Subgroups of Former Foster Youth During the Transition to Adulthood: Implications for Policy and Practice. Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

6. Pecora, P.J., et al. (see note #5)

7. Pecora, P.J., et al. (see note #5)

8. Courtney, M.E., Dworsky, A., Terao, S., Bost, N., Cusick, G.R., Keller, T., and Havlicek, J. (2005). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 19. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children. p. 61