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Recording: Knowledge to Action Conversation on Identity Safety for Youth in Foster Care and Vulnerable Groups 

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Recording: Knowledge to Action Conversation on Identity Safety for Youth in Foster Care and Vulnerable Groups 

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Identity Safety for Youth in Foster Care and Vulnerable Groups August 2025

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Having your identity stolen isn't just inconvenient; it can be deeply traumatic. For the families we serve, especially vulnerable youth, the impact can affect their path to independence.
 
Join us for an eye-opening session with Elle Martin, retired law enforcement officer and trauma-informed advocate with over 18 years of experience and a passion for protecting communities. Explore the real risks and dangers of identity theft and learn about the steps we can take to protect the families we work with to build financial resilience.
 
 Learn more about:
 

The truth about how early identity theft can begin

 

The most common types of identity theft

 

Strategies, tools, and resources that can help support vulnerable populations and build resilience

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The Moving Ahead training helps survivors of abuse build financial empowerment skills to support safety and independence.

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Moving Ahead covers a variety of important financial topics, including budgeting, managing debt, and improving credit. It has been proven to help survivors move from short-term safety to long-term security.

We value your feedback on Moving Ahead. You can complete the course evaluation module at any time. If you have questions or need help with the course, please email Info@TheLearningCommunityToEndViolence.org.

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Moving Ahead: A financial empowerment resource | The Learning Community

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Moving Ahead covers a variety of important financial topics, including budgeting, managing debt, and improving credit. It has been proven to help survivors move from short-term safety to long-term security. We value your feedback on Moving Ahead. You can complete the course evaluation module at any time.

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IDCARE.org is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service, helping people respond to identity theft, scams, and cybersecurity incidents.

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WE RESPOND

IDCARE responds to many types of identity and cyber security concerns, including identity theft, hacking, phishing, telephone scams, romance scams, investment scams, data breaches, ransomware, and lost or stolen credentials.

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IDCARE Official Website | Identity Theft & Cyber Support

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IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand's national identity & cyber support service. We offer free phone consultations and advice from specialised identity and cyber security counsellors. See our Learning Centre to learn how to prepare, prevent, detect and respond to cyber related issues.

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LastPass.com is a secure password manager that helps you safely store, generate, and manage all your passwords in one place.

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Houses an advocate who specializes in identity theft.

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Over the last four decades, our programs and partnerships have allowed AVA to serve domestic violence survivors, children and youth witnesses of violence, survivors of a loved one's homicide, sexual assault survivors, and many other Atlanta residents affected by crime.

And unlike other crime assistance organizations, when there are crimes committed against people, AVA offers support to victims and witnesses regardless of the arrest status of the offender. For these victims, AVA is often the only organization connecting them with resources and helping them to cope, grieve and move forward with their lives.

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Programs & Partners - Atlanta Victim Assistance Inc.

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AVA is unlike any other crime assistance organization in the United States. Our services are culturally responsive, victim-centered, and through many key

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Learn how the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) helps people prevent and recover from identity theft through free support, education, and tools, especially in today’s digital world.

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What Is The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)? - Consumer Laws For You

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Credit Karma is a free online service that helps you monitor your credit, track your financial health, and spot signs of identity theft. It’s widely used and trusted by millions in the U.S.

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Credit Karma uses your credit profile to show you curated recommendations. Plus, you can see your Approval Odds¹ before you apply without impacting your scores.

If you are new to credit, putting away as little as $10 per paycheck could help your score go up. Just a few clicks and you could be approved instantly to start improving your credit in as little as two months.

You're eligible to apply through Credit Karma Money if your TransUnion credit score is 619 or below at the time of application. Members with a credit score of 619 or under could see an increase within 2 months. Late payments and other factors can have a negative impact on your score, including activity with your other credit accounts.

Relief roadmap connects you to government support and personalized debt relief options.

Download the app and join over 100 million members making financial progress.

Editorial insights to help you reach your financial goals.

¹Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the product shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there's no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don't meet the lender's "ability to pay standard" after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.

The Credit Builder plan is serviced by SeedFi and requires a no-fee SeedFi line of credit and SeedFi savings account provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. You're eligible to apply through Credit Karma Money if your TransUnion credit score is 619 or below at the time of application. With Credit Builder, you may be able to elect to enroll in the optional AutoSave program, which allows you to automatically save as little as $10 per paycheck if you contribute biweekly or semimonthly and as little as $20 per paycheck if you contribute monthly. If you do not elect to enroll in AutoSave, any contribution you make to Credit Builder may not be less than $10. Please see our FAQs. Banking services for Credit Karma Money Spend account is provided by MVB Bank, Inc, Member FDIC. Maximum balance and transfer limits apply per account. Credit Builder is not provided by MVB Bank.

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Free credit scores and tools to make financial progress

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Credit Karma uses your credit profile to show you curated recommendations. Plus, you can see your Approval Odds¹ before you apply without impacting your scores. If you are new to credit, putting away as little as $10 per paycheck could help your score go up.

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Although this news report primarily focuses on college students, it highlights important warning signs of identity theft, along with helpful tips such as regularly checking your credit report and forming smart digital habits.

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This video breaks down how digital identity theft works, why it's on the rise, and what simple steps you can take to protect yourself online.

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Digital Identity Theft: What You Need to Know About It

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Watch this YouTube Short to learn two key websites you should use right away if your identity has been stolen.

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2 things you should do ASAP if your identity has been stolen!

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News Channel WCNC interviews Tom Bartholomew, a Better Business Bureau expert, who explains how scammers ramp up identity theft during the holidays and shares simple habits to help you protect your personal information year-round.

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One powerful tool to help prevent identity theft is a credit freeze, which prevents anyone from opening accounts in your name.

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1 Simple Step to STOP Identity Theft (10 min!)

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Identity theft doesn’t just begin when youth age out of foster care; it may have started long before. In this interview, expert Robert Siciliano explains how identity theft happens and offers tips on how to protect against it.

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How to protect your child from identity theft

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This National Foster Parent Association article offers practical guidance, including shredding sensitive documents and monitoring online activity, to help foster parents protect youth from identity theft and manage their digital safety.

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How to Protect Foster Youth From Identity Theft | National Foster Parent Association

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Throughout the past year, identity theft scams have continued to grow at an alarming rate. According to The Identity Theft Resource Center, approximately 15 million Americans were affected by identity theft in 2017. What most don’t know, however, is that children are especially vulnerable, in part, because no one may notice the crime for years. […]

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The evaluation is designed to assess whether these protections, required under federal law, are actually being implemented at the state level to better shield foster youth from identity theft.

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The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

The more than 600,000 children served by U.S. foster care each year are especially vulnerable to identity theft because their personally identifiable information can be accessed by the many adults they encounter during their time in care, including noncustodial family members, foster parents, and social services personnel. Congress enacted two laws that include requirements intended to protect children in foster care from identity theft: the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act and the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. These laws require States to conduct annual credit checks for children aged 14 or older in foster care and to help these children interpret and resolve any inaccuracies identified in credit reports. The surge in reports of identity theft and stakeholder concerns could indicate that credit checks and the resolution of credit reports may not be occurring as required by Federal law. We will evaluate records of children in foster care to determine the extent to which, in calendar year 2021: (1) State child welfare agencies implemented practices to conduct credit checks for children in foster care, (2) State child welfare agencies identified children in foster care who had credit reports that indicated identity theft, (3) State child welfare agencies supported children in foster care in interpreting credit reports and resolving cases of identity theft, and (4) the Administration for Children and Families recommended and States took preventative measures to protect children in foster care from identity theft. We will also examine demographic data to determine whether there are disparities in the provision of credit checks, the prevalence of identity theft, or the provision of preventative measures.

Announced or Revised

Agency

Title

Component

Report Number(s)

Expected Issue Date (FY)

Completed

Administration for Children and Families

Protecting Children in Foster Care From Identity Theft

Office of Evaluation and Inspections
OEI-07-22-00510
2025

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office of inspector general | u.s. department of health and human services

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Protecting Children in Foster Care From Identity Theft

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Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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This blog post shares five essential tips foster parents should know about keeping foster youth safe online, from protecting credit and personal data to guiding healthy digital habits.

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What to Know About Safeguarding Kids’ Digital Safety| Foster Love

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Learn five essential tips for foster parents to safeguard their kids’ digital safety, ensuring a secure and protected online environment.

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Highlights from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (printable version).

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This HHS Office of Inspector General report (issued September 2024) reveals that most children in foster care did not receive the required annual credit checks or assistance, leaving many vulnerable to identity theft, and highlights critical gaps in how agencies follow federal safeguards.

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Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Most Children in Foster Care Did Not Receive Credit Checks and Assistance

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The over 600,000 children served by foster care each year are vulnerable to identity theft because their personally identifiable and financial information can be accessed by the many adults they encounter during their time in care, including non-custodial family members, foster parents, and social services personnel. To protect these children, Federal law requires that each child in foster care aged 14 or older annually receive a free credit check, and assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies identified.

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This older Channel 2 Action News report follows Aaron, a former foster youth whose identity was stolen while in care, highlighting the ongoing issue of identity fraud in Georgia’s foster care system and the urgent need for stronger protections.

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2 Investigates: Foster care children vulnerable to fraud

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Watch ABC News’ report on Kubrick Ureta’s story, whose identity was stolen by her biological father, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protections for youth in foster care.

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Bill tackling identity theft among foster youth

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Learn five practical steps parents can take to protect their child from identity theft, including freezing credit, limiting social media, and safeguarding personal information. With identity thieves increasingly targeting children, early prevention is key to keeping their future secure.

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Child Identity Theft: How Scammers Make A Living Off Your Kids | Aura

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This Consumer Financial Protection Bureau blog post explains how youth in foster care are uniquely vulnerable to identity theft and outlines steps child welfare agencies and caregivers can take to protect and support them during credit checks and transitions into adulthood.

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How to protect vulnerable children from credit reporting problems | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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Youth in foster care are particularly susceptible to identity theft because they often lack a permanent address, and their personal information is…

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Equifax, one of the leading agencies in credit reporting, explains how children in foster care are highly vulnerable to identity theft and offers guidance for caregivers and caseworkers to better protect their personal information.

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Identity Theft of Children in Foster Care | Equifax

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Foster children are highly susceptible to identity theft. Here are some ways caregivers or caseworkers can better protect their personal data.

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Many people don’t realize their identity has been stolen until the damage has already been done. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of your credit situation even if you think it doesn’t matter right now.

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In this video from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), you’ll learn how identity theft works, who it affects, and what simple steps you can take to protect your personal information.

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Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)

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The Identity Theft Resource Center is a nonprofit organization that helps protect vulnerable populations, including youth aging out of foster care, by providing free support and resources to prevent and recover from identity theft.

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Since 1999, the ITRC has been the only national non-profit in the U.S. to provide live, direct identity crime advice at no-cost.