About
Foster Youth Facts

What is Foster Care?
Foster care is intended to be a temporary living situation for children and young people. The foster care system in California is a state supervised, county administered system. The goal of foster care is to provide support and care for the children and youth in their care until reunification with parent or guardian or another suitable permanent living arrangement can be facilitated. Some youth, however, stay in foster care till they are 18, at which age most counties can no longer support the youth and they age out of the system. 

What is Emancipation?
When a youth ages out of the system, also called emancipation, they often find themselves with little or no support network and few resources.  While there are some organizations that assit them to find jobs, obtain housing, get an education or provide emotional and health services - these youth still face the intense challenges of being independent at age 18.

Here are some great resources for more information on foster care:
Foster Care Information
Understanding the Child Welfare System in California—a great basic primer

If you are interested in San Francisco Foster Care, visit  the SF Human Services Agency, where Family & Children’s Services department  is located. 

Good Reports about Foster Care Youth
MidWest Study Chapin Hall 2004—a widely sited report of national foster care issues

What Types of Programs and Services are Available for Youth Aging Out of the Foster Care System?—a report about Bay Area services for emancipated youth

Interested in statistics?
Check out the HEY Foster Youth Statistics sheet which highlights some national and local barriers facing foster care youth. A new HEY Foster Youth Statistics sheet will be available soon!
For more information about foster care visit these other great websites:

• Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles
• Casey Family Programs
• Child Welfare League of America (facts about foster care)
• California Youth Connection
• Court Appointed Special Advocates
• Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
• National Foster Care Month
• Youth Law Center

How Can the Community Get Involved?
There are many ways that the community can make a difference in the life of a foster youth.  Individuals can recognize a foster parent or youth for their accomplishments, volunteer at an organization working with foster youth, become a foster parent or mentor, provide a leadership, employment, or educational opportunity for a foster youth, or educate others about foster care in San Francisco.