Did You Know?Did You Know?

I was homeless for almost 10 I was homeless for almost 10 yearsyears

And never went to school until And never went to school until age 11!age 11!

We could only carry We could only carry so much on our so much on our

backs…backs…

I only have two pictures I only have two pictures from age from age 2 to 112 to 11

Child protective services Child protective services always gave me a place always gave me a place to call to call home……home……

But they never lasted But they never lasted more than two weeks..more than two weeks..

We would always be We would always be given back if my mom given back if my mom could provide shelter..could provide shelter..

Which was always Which was always a hotel.a hotel.

My siblings and I My siblings and I were taken away were taken away

because…..because…..

My mother had My mother had love for other love for other

thingsthings,,

Like drugs and Like drugs and alcohol…….alcohol…….

My mother lost My mother lost all her parental all her parental rights by the rights by the time I was time I was

1616

Love was always Love was always a temporary a temporary

thing for me…..thing for me…..

After never giving up….After never giving up….

I made it to the I made it to the University of University of California,California,IrvineIrvine

And nowAnd now……

I get to go to I get to go to Paris this Paris this summer!!summer!!

All thanks too…..All thanks too…..

Caring Mentors like Caring Mentors like

YOU!!YOU!!

I am so grateful because…I am so grateful because…

Did you know?Did you know?

There are approximately There are approximately 550,000 children in 550,000 children in Foster Care in the Foster Care in the

United States of AmericaUnited States of America

Children who are taken Children who are taken out of their home and out of their home and

moved around before or moved around before or during their high school during their high school education have a higher education have a higher

tendancy totendancy to Have many difficulties in Have many difficulties in

life…life…

The high school The high school completion rate completion rate

for foster youth is for foster youth is 30 -40%30 -40%

Of all foster youth, 3 out of Of all foster youth, 3 out of 10 become homeless after 10 become homeless after aging out of the system, aging out of the system,

And never make it And never make it past high school.past high school.

And….And….

Did you know?Did you know?

30,000 youth 30,000 youth ““age out” of foster age out” of foster

care every year…care every year…

70% of the prison population in 70% of the prison population in the United States the United States

Is comprised of Is comprised of graduates of the foster graduates of the foster

care system.care system.

Who are the nation’s children Who are the nation’s children in foster care?in foster care?

Of the 550,000 children in foster careOf the 550,000 children in foster care 32% are between ages 0 and 532% are between ages 0 and 5 28% are between ages 6 and 1228% are between ages 6 and 12

40% are between ages 13 and 2140% are between ages 13 and 21 42% experience 3 or more foster 42% experience 3 or more foster

care placements.care placements. 18% 18% (99,000)(99,000) of children are of children are

between ages of 13 and 21between ages of 13 and 21

What are the nation’s foster What are the nation’s foster children waiting for?children waiting for?

275,000 (50%) are waiting to be 275,000 (50%) are waiting to be unified with their birth familiesunified with their birth families

126,500 (23%) 126,500 (23%) are waiting to be are waiting to be

adoptedadopted

The leftover youth that do not get The leftover youth that do not get adopted will “age out” on their 18adopted will “age out” on their 18thth birthdaybirthday

At 7 a.m.!!At 7 a.m.!!

Where do the nation’s Where do the nation’s children go after children go after

leaving foster care?leaving foster care?

In 2005,In 2005, 286,005 children 286,005 children

exited foster care…….exited foster care…….

154, 442 (54%) were 154, 442 (54%) were returned to their parentsreturned to their parents

60,061 (21%) were adopted60,061 (21%) were adopted37,181 (13%) left to live 37,181 (13%) left to live with relativeswith relatives

22,881 (8%) “aged out” or 22,881 (8%) “aged out” or left the sytem at 18left the sytem at 18

11,440 (4%) left for other 11,440 (4%) left for other reasons reasons

ran away, ran away, TransferredTransferredDiedDied

Information provided Information provided by: Adoption and Foster by: Adoption and Foster

Care Analysis and Care Analysis and Reporting SystemsReporting Systems

AFCARSAFCARS

I created this slide show I created this slide show for the New Beginnings for the New Beginnings first annual fund raising first annual fund raising event. 12/10/2009event. 12/10/2009

This subject, and the This subject, and the suffering of children is suffering of children is very close to my heart. very close to my heart.

If we don’t protect our If we don’t protect our children, we don’t children, we don’t protect our future. Our protect our future. Our children are our most children are our most important natural important natural resource. resource.

______Anna Barbieri ______Anna Barbieri Hernandez_____Hernandez_____