Permanently Temporary

Foster care was designed to be a temporary haven for youth who were suffering from neglect and abuse at home. Today, there are more than 500,000 youth in foster care across the nation. In Utah, hundreds of these youth cannot return to their biological families and are never adopted.

These children and teens grow up in foster care placements and group homes. At age 18, they become too old to remain in state custody and are emancipated to live independently. They call this process “aging-out.” In Utah, more than 400 youth will age out this year.

Most are eager to be on their own, though few have the resources, role models, and life skills necessary to be successful.  
 

After foster care, many youth have nowhere to go and no one to turn to for help.  Without supportive relationships or positive role models they struggle with homelessness, legal issues, medical emergencies, personal care, and poverty.

"I lived in like seventeen places when I was in foster care. They moved me four times in a year once. I try not to think about it now, but all I could think about then was: why doesn’t anybody want me?"

- Daniel, youth

"It wasn't our fault that mom kept going back to jail, but now it's like we're the ones being punished." 

 - Kristin, youth