Foster Care Facts

The foster care system originally was designed to provide temporary housing for children who were abandoned, abused and/or neglected. Theoretically, these children would either be returned to their parents once the situation at home improved or would be placed with an adoptive family. The system would care for such children until their 18th birthday.

This year, more than 650,000 American children nationwide will spend their lives within the foster care system. Many of them will never be adopted and will "graduate" from foster care ill prepared for life in the real world on the day of their 18th birthday, ready or not! A staggering number of them will ultimately end up in jail, homeless, pregnant, or in drug- or alcohol-abuse programs, thereby entering a much different part of "the system."

Foster children are among the most vulnerable children in the U.S. Most have been abused or neglected and are, at least temporarily, unable to return home safely.
The Federal government offers states some funding to help with the transition to independent living (job training, housing, counseling, etc.) but it simply isn't enough. Nonetheless, there's still plenty of hope for these thousands of individuals.

Here in Southwest Florida, foster care has been privatized. With that comes many serious changes for the young people "aging out" of the system. There are many issues they need to be concerned about, including the lack of consistency in life skills training. In addition, access to mental health counseling, safe housing, employment opportunities and job internships have been compromised. An all-important component is also missing, which is on going mentoring.

The biggest step youth will make in the transitioning from foster care to
independent living is assuming the responsibility for their own housing.
Housing options for former foster youths are limited by a number of
different factors:

• Willingness of landlords to rent to young tenants
• Availability of suitable housing
• Affordable rents

FootSteps To The Future is addressing these issues in our
program with a commitment to our young people to help to
provide what is now missing. We are bridging the gap in
the system for these deserving young adults in hopes they
will not be among the 50% of former foster children who
are not successful in transitioning into living independently.

Please read more on this website about what we are
currently doing to promote positive choices and self-sufficiency.