Children who grow up in foster care without finding permanency have less opportunity
- 36% of California foster youth become homeless within 18 months of emancipation
- 50% of youth who have aged out of foster care end up homeless or incarcerated.
- Teen girls in foster care are 2.5 times more likely to become pregnant by age 19 than those not in foster care.
- Less than 50% of foster youth graduate from high school and only 3% graduate from college.
There is a shortage of resource families in Yolo County to foster and adopt children
- Children need permanency and a safe, stable place they can call home.
- In Yolo County, there are more children that need homes than there are available families.
- Therefore, the majority of Yolo County’s foster youth are placed in Foster Family Agency taking them from their community and school and causing more trauma.
- We need more families in Yolo County able to take in Yolo County’s foster children.
Why do children go into foster care?
Children go into foster care because their parents or caregivers are not able to care for them, either temporarily or permanently. This could be for many different reasons, including:
- Death in family
- Medical issues of family
- Drug abuse of family
- Family members going to prison
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Family members neglected child
Teens need families too
- While Yolo County’s foster youth range from infant-21 years old.
- We need more families excited to be families for teens in foster care.
- Foster youth aged 18-21 are considered “non-minor dependents”. They are working toward independence but still receive financial support as they get on their feet.
- If you are interested in caring for a teenage foster youth or a non-minor dependent, there are many youth in that age group that need a family as well.
Do all foster children go back to their biological parents?
- The first goal will be reunification, so we will do what we can to support the child reunifying with their family.
- If that is not possible, we explore other paths of permanency for the child, which could include the child moving in with relatives, non-related extended family, or community families the child does not already know.
- If you begin to foster a child, the child’s social worker can tell you the status of reunification efforts.
- There are some children whose parental rights have been terminated and who do not have relatives or extended family able to take them in. If you are more interested in adopting a child, these children maybe able to be adopted.
What support will I get if I become a resource family and foster a child?
- You will be reimbursed a set amount per month. This reimbursement amount varies depending on the child.
- The child’s medical care, dental care, and mental health services will also be paid for.
- There may be other sources of support available as well. To learn more, talk to your assigned social worker once you start the process.