Project: Hope for kids
Help end foster care maltreatment.
Whats the Problem?
FOSTER CARE
Many of America’s child welfare systems are badly broken — and children can suffer serious harm as a result. Some will be separated from their siblings. Others will be bounced from one foster care placement to another, never knowing when their lives will be uprooted next. Too many will be further abused in systems that are supposed to protect them. And instead of being safely reunified with their families — or moved quickly into adoptive homes — many will languish for years in foster homes or institution.Qualifications to foster care are not strict enough..
The requirements to become a foster or adoptive parent include, but are not limited to:
- Must be at least 21 years of age (CDHS Vol 7.708.22).
- Must be a US citizen, legal Permanent Resident of the US or lawfully present in the US
- Must have adequate space and a bedroom available for the foster child. (May be shared with another child) (7.708.22 B)
- Must have a stable income to support your existing family (7.708.21i).
- Must be healthy enough to care for a child.
- Must complete our application process and Pre-Service Training.
- Must pass a home study.
- Must be approved by our County Departments of Human Services.
- Spouses or live-in partners must also be committed to the program
Foster care Statistics
On any given day, there are approximately 402,000 children in foster care in the United States.
In 2013, over 640,000 children spent time in U.S. foster care.
On average, children remain in state care for nearly two years and eight percent of children in foster care have languished there for five or more years.
Despite the common perception that the majority of children in foster care are very young, the average age of kids in care is 9.
In 2013, more than half of children entering U.S. foster care were young people of color.
Twenty-four percent of children in U.S. foster care are African American, double the percentage of African American children in the U.S. population.
While most children in foster care live in family settings, a substantial minority — 14 percent — live in institutions or group homes.
In 2013, more than 58,000 children who were living in foster care and waiting to be adopted had their biological parental rights permanently terminated.
In 2013, more than 23,000 young people aged out of foster care without permanent families. Research has shown that those who leave care without being linked to forever families are highly likely to experience homelessness, unemployment and incarceration as adults.
“While states should work rapidly to find safe permanent homes, on any given day children available for adoption have spent an average of nearly two years (22 months) waiting to be adopted.”
ReMoved
Please don't stand by and let it happen. Not helping is just as bad as causing the harm. Help end maltreatment today!
Ways to get involved
Call Us Toll Free : 800.525.6789
1. Become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteer
2. Become a Foster Parent
3. Become a Foster Grandparent
4. Provide Respite Foster Care
5. Serve as a Guardian for a Child/Youth in the Foster Care System
6. Become Licensed to Provide Care for a Child/Youth in Your Extended Family who is at Risk of Placement with a Non-Relative
7. Adopt a Child from the Foster Care System
8. Volunteer on a Local Foster Care Review Board
9. Become a “Grand-Friend” to Foster Child/Youth by Attending Their School Activities, Sporting Events, Concerts, Etc