Over 140 million considered orphans worldwide, with over 400,000 of these children living in the United States
Each year, over 250,000 children enter the U.S. child welfare system and over 23,000 children age out of foster care.
WHAT THEIR FUTURE HOLDS
- HUMAN TRAFFICKING: 70% of human trafficking victims in the U.S. spent time in foster care
- INCARCERATION: In several states, 65% of inmates aged out of foster care
- HOMELESSNESS: There are currently 2 million 18-24-year-olds living homeless in the U.S., many of whom spent time in foster care.
- PREGNANCY WITHIN A YEAR: 71% of young women become pregnant within one year of aging out of foster care
THE UNRELENTING, UNENDING CYCLE OF FOSTER CARE
Foster care is notorious for its unrelenting and unending cycle. Kids face family breakdown, placement in an unfamiliar home, disruption, and too often, disruption again. Sadly, many children age-out of foster care without a permanent or lasting sense of family.
While there are 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S. alone, there are also 300,000 churches. That means, for every child or sibling set in the U.S. foster care system, there’s also a church, with many families who could play a role in helping vulnerable kids.
BUT HERE'S THE THING ... FOSTERING IS HARD.
It takes faith, time, money, and emotion to care for vulnerable children and without support, the role of a foster parent can feel nearly impossible. In fact...
The national average of families who quit fostering within their first year is about 50%.
That means we not only need to increase the number of families caring for vulnerable children, but we need to create support for these families so they can foster longer and stronger.
We partner with churches to create Family Advocacy Ministries (FAMs), providing what vulnerable children need most...strong families.