Over 25,000 youth across the nation are “emancipated” or “aged out,” of foster care each year.

Cast out into the world on their own without housing, financial assistance or emotional support, puts this group at high risk for:

• Homelessness (1 in 5 will become homeless)
• Unemployment (Only half will be employed at age 24)
• Pregnancy (71% of young women will become pregnant by age 21)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (1 in 4 will experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

The costs to society are high.  Every youth who ages out of foster care costs taxpayers $300,000 in public assistance, incarceration, and lost lifetime wages.

In total, this problem costs society $8 billion.  And costs these children compromised lives.