CALLS TO CHILD WELFARE

136K

Every year in the Commonwealth of Virginia, hundreds of thousands of families are investigated by child welfare and find themselves at risk of fracture.

CHILDREN ENTERING CARE

2800

Last year, nearly 3000 children were separated from their families, entering an overburdened foster care system. They'll face an average of five placement changes over the next 20 months.

CURRENTLY IN FOSTER CARE

5400

In every region of the Commonwealth, there are children and families in need of your support to reunify and find sustaining stability and permanence.

AVERAGE AGE

8

The older a child is in foster care, the longer he remains there waiting for a chance at a permanent family. Black children are the least likely to find permanence.

WAITING FOR ADOPTION

1400

Some reports have this number closer to 2000 children waiting. Many of them have been waiting for more than eight years (more than half of their childhood).

NEVER FIND FAMILY

500

When a foster youth reaches a certain age, they are no longer eligible for the legal protection and provisions of the state and exit the system with no advocates, no guides, and no anchor to a stable adult.

TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

70%

Of all populations, foster youth (especially girls) are the most vulnerable to trafficking. Some reports found that more than 80% of survivors were still under the care of child welfare at the time of their abduction.

HOMELESSNESS

50%

Immediately upon aging out of foster care, 25% of foster youth will be homeless. But more than 50% of the homeless population spent time in foster care.