
Did you know…
according to a recent study, only 3% of foster care alumni complete a bachelor’s degree by age 26, compared with 24% of the general population.
The top three barriers to success encountered by youth aging out of foster care are:
- Housing/Food – No consistent, safe, affordable place to stay and no regular meals.
- Support – No one to talk to or offer emotional support and guidance on decision-making.
- Finances – Money for transportation or to cover school.
Children forced into independence too soon face frightening odds:
- Fewer than 6 percent finish a 2- or 4-year college degree by age 24
- Nearly one-quarter don’t earn a high school diploma or GED
- Only half are employed by their mid-20s
- Six in 10 men are convicted of a crime, and 3 out of 4 women
- Only 48 percent are working, compared with 72 percent of their peers, with a median annual income of $8,000
- Nearly 40 percent end up homeless