Securing Positive Outcomes
Youth in foster care, especially those age 13 and older, face long odds. They are less likely to reach a permanent home and may languish in the foster care system for years before aging out without a permanent home, which happens to nearly 20,000 young people every year.
These youth are expected to make it on their own as independent adults, but often lack the support and resources to do so. Some leave foster care and become homeless on day one. Many never graduate from high school. Most are underemployed, and even later, at age 26, they earn less than half what their peers do, on average. While poor outcomes are more likely, they’re not inevitable.
The National CASA/GAL Association’s Fostering Futures initiative is poised to make a positive impact on older youth and improve these outcomes. High school graduation, living wage employment, a place to live, and a healthy, thriving adulthood are attainable for every youth aging out of foster care, and the support of a caring, consistent adult can make all the difference. Fostering Futures is strengthening CASA and GAL programs’ service to the older youth, expanding services to more youth preparing to age out of foster care, and ensuring that foster care alumni have the support they need to thrive as adults.
Every youth in foster care can achieve their potential and become a happy, successful adult. Jewelers for Children is helping to make this a reality through its support of Fostering Futures and the National CASA/GAL Association for Children.
Each year, more than 400,000 children and youth find themselves—through no fault of their own–in the foster care system of the United States after experiencing abuse or neglect. They are often separated from their families and caught up in a confusing and complicated system of social workers, foster homes, courts, service agencies and state child welfare departments.
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Association for Children leads the grown and development of a nation-wide network of 950 state organizations and local programs in 49 states and the District of Columbia, each of which recruits, trains and supports volunteers who advocate in court for the best interests of children and youth who are in the child welfare system or foster care. In 2020, more than more than 93,000 CASA® and GAL volunteers helped over 242,000 children and youth who had experienced abuse or neglect find safe, permanent homes.
CASA and GAL volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children and youth. Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators and service providers to ensure that judges have all the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child. For many children, their CASA or GAL volunteer will be the one consistent adult in their lives. The positive impact of a CASA or GAL volunteer can make a life-changing difference.
Learn more at nationalcasagal.org, or follow us on facebook.com/NationalCASAGAL or twitter.com/NationalCASAGAL.