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Home > > Practice Areas > Housing and Homelessness > Publications and Reports

 
 

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




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