Over half a million children nationwide live in foster care while their families work
to overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol, illness, financial hardship, or other problems.
The number of foster youth in California has tripled in the last 20 years.
With roughly 30,000 youth in foster care, Los Angeles is home to the largest foster care system in the country. Approximately one out of every ten children in foster care nationally is under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles court system.
About 25% of children entering foster care for the first time are infants, and 60% are under 4 years old. Adolescents between 13 and 18 make up approximately 33% of all children in foster care.
The proportion of children of color in foster care is 3 times greater than the proportion represented in the overall US population.
Most children stay in foster care only temporarily and are reunited with their families, but about a third remain in care for 2 years or longer. Almost 20% will become legally eligible for adoption.
What Can You Do To Help Youth In Foster Care That We Collectively Undertake To "parent"?
Be a foster parent. Specialized training, support, and assistance are available to enable you to give foster children a warm and safe home environment.
Adopt a child from foster care. The need for a permanent, secure home and a family they can trust is great among children in the foster care system.
Be a mentor. Partner with youth who are about to turn 18 to help them learn the basics of living independently.
Donate or volunteer your time to organizations that serve foster children. Email
us to learn about the many opportunities to make a difference.
Support public measures that improve services to foster children and their families.
“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.”
--Earvin "Magic" Johnson
