Youth After Foster Care Statistics

Housing & Homelessness

• According to a national survey, 25% of foster youth reported that they had been homeless at least one night within 2.5 to 4 years after exiting foster care. ¹
  
  
• 34% of foster youth in Wisconsin had been homeless or lived in four or more places within 12 to 18 months after exiting the foster care system. ²
  
  
• 25-40% of youth who become homeless each year identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). ³
  
  
• 3 in 10 of the nation's homeless adults report foster care history. ⁴
  
  
• 36% of former foster youth in Clark County, Nevada reported there were times when they did not have a place to live. ⁵

Education

• 54% of former foster youth completed high school according to a national survey. ⁶
  
  
• At 12 to 18 months post-discharge, 55% of former foster youth in Wisconsin had completed high school. ⁷
  
  
• 50% of youth in Clark County, Nevada left foster care without a high school degree. ⁸
  
  
• 70% of former foster youth expressed the desire to attend college. ⁹

Employment

• 38% of former foster youth maintained employment for one year. ¹⁰
  
  
• 50% of former foster youth in Wisconsin were employed 12 to 18 months post-discharge. ¹¹
  
  
• 63% of former foster youth in Clark County, Nevada were employed when interviewed with an average hourly wage of $7.25. ¹²

Incarceration

• In Wisconsin, 18% of former foster youth experienced incarceration post-discharge. ¹³
  
  
• 41% of former foster youth in Clark County, Nevada reported spending at least one night in jail. ¹⁴

Early Parenthood

• 60% of young women had children 2.5 to 4 years post-discharge. ¹⁵
  
  
• 38% of former foster youth in Clark County, Nevada has children. ¹⁶

Health

• 47% of former foster youth in Wisconsin received mental health services while in foster care. ¹⁷
  
  
• 44% of former foster youth in Wisconsin reported difficulty accessing health and mental health services. ¹⁸
  
  
• 55% of former foster youth in Clark County, Nevada reported no type of health insurance post-discharge. ¹⁹

1. Cook, R. (1991). A national evaluation of title IV-E foster care independent living programs for youth. Rockville, MD: Westat, Inc. back
2. Courtney M., and Piliavin, I. (1998). Foster youth transitions to adulthood: Outcomes 12 to 18 months after leaving out-of-home care. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin. back
3. Kruks G. Gay and lesbian homeless/street youth: special issues and concerns. J Adolescent Health. 1991;12:515-518. back
4. Roman, N.P. & Wolfe, N. (1995). Web of failure: The relationship between foster care and homelessness. Washington, DC: National Alliance to End Homelessness. back
5. Reilly, T. (2003). Transitions from care: status and outcomes of youth who age out of foster care. Child Welfare, 82, 727-746. back
6. Cook, R. (1991). back
7. Courtney, M., & Piliavin, I. (1998). back
8. Reilly, T. (2003). back
9. McMillen, C., Auslander, W., Elze, D., White, T. & Thompson, R. (2003). Educational experiences and aspirations of older youth in foster care. Child Welfare, 82, 475-495. back
10. Cook, R. (1991). back
11. Courtney, M., and Piliavin, I. (1998). back
12. Reilly, T. (2003). back
13. Courtney, M., & Piliavin, I. (1998). back
14. Reilly, T. (2003). back
15. Cook, R. (1991). back
16. Reilly, T. (2003). back
17. Courtney, M., & Piliavin, I. (1998). back
18. Ibid. back
19. Reilly, T. (2003). back

www.cwla.org/programs/housing/youthfostercarestats.htm