THE CRISIS

foster child

The sad truth is that for some children, who are placed into the fostering system, it is not a temporary home, and the system is severely broken.


Kids being fostered have so many needs that are necessary but, are not in the scope of traditional programs or those programs simply don't have the budget to support the needs.


The Varner Foundation takes referral from its "trusted partner" organizations to help stand in the gap so...


  • Great foster parents can keep fostering
  • Kinship caregivers can keep their families together
  • And older foster youth can move towards self-sufficiency


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KINSHIP CARE

A term used for the raising of children by grandparents, other extended family and adults with whom they have a close family like relationship because biological parents are unable to do so for whatever reason.  Legal custody of a child may not be involved, and the child may be related by blood, marriage or adoption.

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FOSTER CARE

A child without parental support and protection placed with a person or family to be cared for, usually by local welfare services or by the court order.  The foster parent(s) do not have custody, nor is there an adoption, but they are expected to treat the foster child as they would their own in regards to food, housing, clothing, and education.

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AGING OUT

Emancipating from foster care occurs when a foster child turns 18 years old (or 21 in some states) without the support of a permanent family. Aging out of foster care often means experiencing unemployment, living below the poverty line, being incarcerated, failing to graduate from high school, and experiencing homelessness.

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Quotes & Stats

  • Nearly half of foster parents quit in the first year of fostering due to lack of critical support" - The Impact Youth & Family News in an article entitled: "We Have to Stop Losing Half of Foster Parents in the First Year" by Irene Clements

  • "The sad truth is that for some children, who are placed into the fostering system, it is not a temporary home, the system is severely broken." -  The Medium in an article entitled: The Foster care System. A Broken system needing change - by Isabella Dakis

  • "May is National Foster Care Month" by The Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • "A child enters foster care every two minutes."
  • "More than 430,000 children and youth are in foster care on any given day."
  •  "Most kids in care — 61% — enter the system due to neglect."
  • "The average child in care is about 8 years old." 
  •  "Children spend, on average, 20 months in care."
  •  "Kids in care are predominantly white (44%) or African-American (23%)."
  •  "One in every five kids in care is Hispanic or Latino (of any race)." 
  •  "More than 117,000 children and youth are waiting to be adopted."
  •  "Nearly half — 45% — of kids in care joined a household of non-relatives for their most recent placement". 
  •  "More than half — 55% — of kids in care are seeking to reunite with their main parent or caretaker, according to their care plan goal."
  •  "Former foster children are almost twice as likely as combat veterans to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."