May is National Foster Care Month...You can change a lifetime!

The Magnititude: Over 510,000 American children are in foster care because their families are unable to provide for their essential wellbeing. There are an estimated 12 million alumni of foster care in the U.S. representing all walks off life.

The Need: No matter their age, all youth in foster care need a meaningful connection to a caring adult who becomes a supportive and lasting presence in their lives. Without families or stable relationships, too many of these formerly abused and neglected children and teens end up facing life's challenges alone.

The Facts: Child welfare issue arise in families of every race, ethnicity, culture, and age group.

The Consequences: Young people in foster care are far more likely than thier peers to endure homelessness, poverty, compromised health, unemployment, incarceration and other adversities.

The Priority: Older youth are in most urgent need of attention. Nearly half of the kids in foster care are over the age of 10. Each year, more than 20,000 of America's children age out of foster care, most without the resources and support they need to succeed.

The Future: If nothing changes by 2020

• 14 million children will be confirmed victims of abuse and neglect
• 22,500 children will die of abuse or neglect, most before their 5th birthday
• 9,000,000 more children will experience the foster care system
• More than 300,000 children will age out of the foster care system, without the support they need to become successful adults
• 99,000 former foster youth, who aged out of the system will experience homelessness
  

The Solution: Across the country, people just like you are serving as foster and adoptive parents. Everyday people coming forward for our nation's most vulnerable children so they may realiaze their full potential.

Learn more by visiting www.fostercaremonth.org or click here to Find an Event Near You.

Toll-free 1-877-505-KIDS
or 1-801-994-5205
moreinfo@utahfostercare.org