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Home - Child Welfare Information Gateway

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Disaggregating data sheds light on the socioeconomic realities faced by Asian American and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander kids. See the findings.

Disaggregating data is vital to understanding the well-being of Asian and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children. Learn more.

Child support is critical in keeping single-parent families out of poverty. Yet, only 24% of single mothers received support in the previous year.

Child poverty rates, as measured by the Supplemental Poverty Measure, indicatea rise in child poverty in 2022, which reverses two years of progress.

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Currently, 18% of all children in the United States - nearly 13 million kids total - are living in poverty. Find research and resources on child poverty here.

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About 19% U.S. children (13.4 million kids) lacked reliable access to adequate food in 2022. This rate has risen nearly 50% since 2021 and represents an eight-year high.

What Is Child Food Insecurity?

Child food insecurity occurs when children lack the resources needed to enable dependable access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle. Food-insecure families are often unable to afford nutritious foods in sufficient quantity for all family members.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) identifies four general levels of food security from high to very low. Children in households with very low food security may have to skip meals or go a whole day without eating due to limited money or resources. Conversely, everyone in a food secure household has consistent access to healthy meals and no one worries about affording groceries or running out of food.

While most American households (87%) are food secure, child food insecurity continues to be a major concern in the United States. In 2022, 17% of all households with children - representing 13.4 million kids - were grappling with food insecurity, according to the USDA . In some of these households, only adults were food insecure. In other households, children were directly impacted.

The USDA estimates that 44.2 million people lived in food insecure households nationwide in 2022. Since these estimates do not include homeless families, the actual number of children impacted by food insecurity is even larger.

Food insecurity has far reaching implications for children, families and society as a whole. Families who have difficulties buying adequate food also struggle to pay for housing, child care, health care and other basic needs. These families sometimes have to make difficult choices between buying food, making rent or paying for medical bills, for example. Food insecurity is a reflection of larger economic and societal inequities, with families of color disproportionately affected. Food insecurity in children warrants particular attention as it is linked to numerous adverse outcomes that can have lasting effects, including developmental disruptions, school problems and physical and mental health issues. Fortunately, family food insecurity can be reduced by strengthening safety net programs, improving household financial stability and addressing systemic inequities.

Child Hunger Statistics in America

Childhood hunger is a key public health issue and a potential result of food insecurity. While the USDA does not measure hunger, it has measured food insecurity for more than two decades.

After improving most of the past decade, the nation's share of children in food-insecure households took a sharp turn in the wrong direction in 2022. This statistic increased nearly 50% - from 13% of all kids in 2021 to 19% of all kids in 2022, according to the USDA . The difference equates to 4.1 million more children in the United States facing food insecurity in 2022.

Two factors helped to fuel this change:

1. Food costs increased sharply in 2022 , rising 12% from December 2021 to December 2022, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Researchers have linked rising food prices to increased food hardships for many people.

2. Pandemic relief measures, including the expanded Child Tax Credit, expired. The loss of this support contributed to historic increases in poverty, leaving families with fewer resources for food.

Consider this child hunger statistic from October 2022: More than one in four (28%) U.S. households with children reported that kids were not eating enough because they could not afford food. In 13 states, this statistic was true for more than 30% of households with kids.

Among the 44 ranked states, Michigan had the highest share of households with children not eating enough at 43%, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT ® Data Center.

Other child and youth hunger statistics in America include:

The number of children experiencing very low food insecurity - which includes going without food - has increased from 521,000 children in 2021 to over 780,000 children in 2022.

In November 2022, 13% of U.S. households with children reported that kids did not have enough food to eat in the past week, which is a measure of food insufficiency.
At the state level, the child food insufficiency rate was highest in Mississippi (26%), followed by Kansas, Nevada and New Mexico (all 20%).

In four states, at least 20% of youth and young adults, ages 18 to 24, did not have enough to eat in the last week,according to Oct. 5‑Nov. 14 2022 data available for 21 states in the KIDS COUNT Data Center. These states were: California (20%), Louisiana (22%), Iowa (26%) and Kentucky (29%). If food insufficiency occurs during the critical development window from adolescence until around age 24, it can have detrimental consequences.

Causes of Child Hunger in America

While many factors contribute to child hunger and food insecurity, Feeding America - a nonprofit network of 200 food banks nationwide - identifies common causes as:

Poverty, unemployment and low wages, which affect the ability to pay for food and other basic living expenses. Even if parents are working full-time, they may not earn enough to afford adequate food. Unsurprisingly, individuals living in poverty have the highest rates of food insecurity. In 2022, 37% of households living below the federal poverty level were also food insecure, compared to only 7% of those earning 185% or more of the poverty level (which was $29,678 for a family of two adults and two children in 2022), according to the USDA.

A lack of affordable housing, which causes families to pay higher housing costs and leaves fewer funds available for food and other needs.

Where families live affects their ability to obtain adequate food, as well. Across the United States, the vast majority (90%) of counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural, according to Feeding America. Access to grocery stores or other healthy food options can be difficult in rural areas, particularly if families do not have transportation. Jobs in rural communities often pay lower wages, too. Families living in tribal communities and in high-poverty, non-white neighborhoods also face higher risks of limited access to quality food.

Public policy, too, has a substantial influence on childhood food insecurity. As a key example, after the 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit was enacted, millions of children were lifted out of poverty and the food insecurity rate fell to a two-decade low for families with kids. Then, as this and other pandemic-era policies ended (including temporary food benefits), the child food insecurity rate soared. State and local policies can influence food security in similar ways.

Additionally, food insecurity rates tend to rise and fall with larger economic forces, including recessions and inflation, as noted above with food prices rising in 2022.

Effects of Child Hunger in America

How Food Insecurity Affects Child Development

Eating healthy, nutritious meals is vital to a child's physical, mental social and academic development. When children have enough food, according to Feeding America, they can concentrate on important things, like doing well in school, being physically active and graduating.

Decades of research has linked child food insecurity to a number of negative health outcomes and even lifelong consequences.

A study in the journal Pediatrics reported that, relative to their food-secure peers, children in food-insecure homes are more likely to have

poor overall health;

reduced immune system functioning;

more communicable diseases

poor body weight outcomes;

asthma;

higher rates of emergency room visits and health care use; and

internalizing behavior problems, such as anxiety and depression.

This study found that food insecurity uniquely affects child health even after controlling for other factors like household composition, income level and neighborhood safety.

Food insecurity derails a student's concentration, memory, mood and motor skills - all of which children need to succeed in school, per the No Kid Hungry campaign. On average, students who eat school breakfast score 17.5% higher on standardized math tests and attend 1.5 more days of school each year relative to students who start the day hungry, the campaign reports.

Demographics of Children Facing Food Insecurity

Food hardship does not affect children equally. Racial and ethnic inequities play a major role in how likely children are to experience hunger and food insecurity.

For example: Children in families of color are more likely to not eat enough because their households cannot afford food, compared to kids in white families. In the fall of 2022, kids were not eating enough in nearly two in five Black (38%), Latino (37%) and multiracial (37%) households with children, and in nearly one-third (31%) of Asian households with children, according to the KIDS COUNT Data Center. These figures were well above the rate for white households with kids (21%).

In 2024, the USDA released food insecurity statistics for more racial and ethnic groups, including American Indian and Alaska Native households, by combining data across 2016-2021. These statistics show similar disparities:

28% of American Indian or Alaska Native households with kids were food insecure, the highest rate of all racial or ethnic groups and almost twice the national rate (15%) for all households with kids during this period. Further, a 2022 research review found that the average food insecurity prevalence rate was even higher - 44% - for American Indian and Alaska Native households with kids.

25% of Black households with children experienced food insecurity, more than double the rate of their white counterparts (11%).

20% to 25% of multiracial households with children were food insecure. The USDA reported rates for three multiracial groups: American Indian-white (25%), Black-white (20%) and other multiracial combinations (20%).

21% of Hawaiian and Pacific Islander households with kids faced food insecurity.

20% of Latino households with children were food insecure. Among these families, the USDA reported wide variation by country or region of origin, including Central America, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and South America.

7% of Asian households with kids experienced food insecurity, although wide disparities exist here, too, by country of origin, including India, China, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and others.

Child food insufficiency rates illustrate similar inequities, as shown in fall 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data on the KIDS COUNT Data Center. That is, the share of households with kids that did not have enough to eat in the past week differs widely by racial and ethnic group:

As noted, such disparities in access to sufficient food are rooted in systemic discrimination, racism and oppression of populations of color. The nonprofit Food Resource & Action Center reports that:​"Decades of housing segregation, employment discrimination, and over-policing are a few of the wide-ranging barriers that have resulted in higher levels of food insecurity among communities of color."

In addition to race and ethnicity, other demographic factors also place families at increased risk of food insecurity, according to the USDA. Families at greater risk include:

Addressing Food Insecurity in Children

Childhood food insecurity can be reduced by removing barriers that prevent certain families from accessing adequate food, and by strengthening systems and policies to facilitate such access. For instance, Feeding America and other expert sources recommend that leaders:

Address systemic inequities continuing to fuel large racial and ethnic disparities in economic and food hardship;

Bolster safety net policies that promote family financial well-being, such as permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit;

Strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps) and increase participation this and other food assistance programs; and

Improve access to other grocery and child nutrition programs, such as the Summer Food Service Program and other school meal programs for children.

Resources on Child Food Insecurity and Economic Instability in America Today

Learn more about child food insecurity, which groups are most affected and possible solutions with resources from the Casey Foundation.

KIDS COUNT Data Center Resources

Additional Resources
Stay connected with the KIDS COUNT Data Center by email

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Learn about child hunger statistics in the United States with AECF. Explore how food insecurity and hunger affect child development and overall health.

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Our mission is to provide and improve -- and ultimately prevent the need for -- foster care.

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YWCA reaches 1 million women, girls and their families through more than 194 local associations in 45 states and the District of Columbia. We provide critical programs, including domestic and sexual violence services, through 12,500 staff members and 52,000 volunteers.

More than 150 YWCAs across 44 states provide gender-based violence services. Every year, in communities big and small, YWCAs get up and do the work of providing safe and secure housing, crisis hotlines, counseling, court assistance, and other community and safety programs to more than 535,000 women, children and families.

A Snapshot of Our Services

YWCA is creating a safer, more just world, by offering emergency, transitional, and long-term housing, crisis hotlines, medical and legal advocacy, and other services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence so survivors can regain stability and as they rebuild their lives.

Job/Work Skills Training A significant barrier for many individuals wanting to leave a violent home is having inadequate financial resources. YWCAs help survivors secure stable employment by providing support through job readiness skills training, job training and placement, resume development, application assistance, and interview preparation.

Housing YWCA is creating a safer, more just world by offering safe and secure emergency shelter, transitional housing, and long-term housing to victims and survivors of gender-based violence so they can avoid homelessness and rebuild their lives. In many communities, YWCA is the only provider of housing for domestic violence survivors. The fact that 1 in 4 women is homeless because of violence committed against her, and more than 92% of homeless mothers have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime makes YWCAs services even more crucial.

Counseling Counseling helps survivors to address the traumatic impact that violence has had on their families, as well as to secure long-term therapeutic interventions.YWCAs around the country offer adult and child counseling, helping to break the cycle of violence through the provision of trauma-informed services.

Our Impact

256,744 total served from prevention programs focused on sexual assault, trafficking, domestic violence and more.

61% are Women and Girls

Our Legislative Priorities:
Safety from Gender-Based Violence

Women and girls of all ages, income levels, racial and ethnic communities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious affiliations continue to experience violence in the form of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and trafficking.

As the largest network of domestic violence service providers in the United States, YWCA works for practical legislative and policy solutions to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and eradicate all forms of gender-based violence.

Week Without Violence

At YWCA, we are eliminating racism and empowering women. Since 1995, YWCAs across the country and their supporters assemble the third week of October for a Week Without Violence, a global movement in partnership with WorldYWCA to end violence against women and girls.

Events range from engaging complex dialogues to workshops, community service opportunities, and public awareness exercises. All activities tackle a central theme, which is the pervasive and intersectional nature of gender-based violence and its impact on our communities.

Additionally, because some gender-based violence goes unacknowledged, under reported or does not receive the same sense of urgency, sensitive subjects such as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and harassment are addressed as well. Every year we ask suvivors, partners and allies to Mmobilize with us during our Week Without Violence, as we raise our voices as a force for change.

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Domestic and Sexual Violence Services - YWCA - YWCA

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YWCA reaches 1 million women, girls and their families through more than 194 local associations in 45 states and the District of Columbia. We provide critical programs, including domestic and sexual violence services, through 12,500 staff members and 52,000 volunteers.

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Healing Action is committed to combating commercial sexual exploitation through a multi-system approach of creating awareness by sharing our experience / strength / hope with others, advocacy with/on behalf of survivors for programs and services needed to empower them, and healing action to create spaces where all can thrive.

awareness by sharing advocacy for survivors healing action to thrive

St. Louis is ranked as the 16th top city for Human Trafficking in the United States. How You Can Help

To date Healing Action has provided support to over 200 survivors and currently has a list of 90 active survivors receiving services.

Since 2005, Katie has been raising awareness about commercial sexual exploitation through speaking about her own experience as a survivor, mentoring other survivors and consulting with agencies that support victims of violence.

Katie currently holds a Masters in Social Work from Washington University in Saint Louis, as well as a Bachelor in Social Work from Metropolitan State University.

Service Management is available to help insure that basic needs are met and set survivors up for success. Services are typically delivered one-on-one with survivors to assist with meeting basic needs (food, clothing, housing), substance use treatment, legal and medical needs, and providing support and transportation for appointments in the community.

Peer Support is the giving and receiving of support between people with a common experience. Services are centered around recovery, rebuilding, and relationships. Supportive groups and one-on-one coaching sessions are led by a Missouri Certified Peer Specialist that focus on specifictopics each session and survivor-directed goal setting and monitoring.

Therapy at Healing Action is provided to support survivors through a process of growth and healing. Therapy is a long-term support and treatment option offered to help survivors understand and process their trauma. Trauma therapy utilizes trauma-focused treatment modalities to provide individual counseling, group counseling, and group psychoeducation.

Transportation assistance is provided by Healing Action to connect survivors to their community and reduce barriers to recovery. Survivors use transportation assistance for attending services at Healing Action, accessing treatment and groups, and going to school or employment. Assistance is provided in the form of bus passes and gift cards to Healing Action members.

In-Kind Store

From coffee to therapy, to bus passes and toilet paper, no donation is too small.

Amazon Wishlist

As we continue to grow we are in continuous need of office items, supplies for the women we serve.

Volunteer

Make an impact by becoming an informed member of our community.

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Healing Action - Serving Survivors of Sex Exploitation

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Skip to content Healing Action is committed to combating commercial sexual exploitation through a multi-system approach of creating awareness by sharing our experience / strength / hope with others, advocacy with/on behalf of survivors for programs and services needed to empower them, and healing action to create spaces where all can thrive.

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Missouri Office of Refugee Administration

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Human Trafficking — Missouri Office of Refugee Administration

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Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor against his/her will. Force, fraud or coercion do not need to be present if the individual in commercial sex is under 18 years old. For more information about human trafficking, click here.

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Resources | Gateway Alliance Against Human Trafficking

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Eastern District of MO Human Trafficking Task Force

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CATE - The Missouri Coalition Against Trafficking and Exploitation

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CATE is a collaborative effort of agencies and individuals building a community movement to prevent and respond to human trafficking & exploitation through advocacy, public policy, education, and direct outreach strategies.

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Missouri Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (MCAHT)

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New Statewide Collaborative Aims to End Human Trafficking

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/PRNewswire/ -- Poised at the intersection of major federal interstates with access to large cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver, Missouri is…

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Signals

The Human Trafficking Hotline has received 399,494 signals since its inception.

Cases

Since its inception, the Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 82,301 cases of human trafficking. 164,839 victims were identified in these cases.

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The National Human Trafficking Hotline maintains one of the most extensive data sets on the issue of human trafficking in the United States. The statistics contained on this website are based on aggregated information learned through signals -- phone calls, texts, online chats, emails, and online tip reports -- received by the Trafficking Hotline.

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Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Association

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CMFCAA - Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Association

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CMFCAA is committed to providing essential services and support to the kinship, foster, and adoptive communities in Central Missouri.

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Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri -

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Home - Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri

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Children’s Division | Missouri Department of Social Services

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Fostering or adopting children is rewarding, but also challenging. Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are support systems that provide resources, training, peer support, respite, and other services families need to navigate raising children through foster care, adoption, and guardianship. These centers are regional, and you can inquire about services, resources, and how to get started in foster care or adoption through the resource center that services your area via phone, email, and the center’s website.

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Families Rising | Formerly North American Council on Adoptable Children

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Discover Families Rising, formally NACAC, Is a child welfare organization offering support, training, and advocacy in adoption and foster care.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Care

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Find answers to common foster care questions, including requirements, payment, timelines and tips for navigating the challenges of fostering.

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Bringing Families Together supports diversity in our families and community. We launched our LGBTQ Foster and Adoptive Parenting group in 2018 to offer families additional support and resources. You are welcome and encouraged to join our online LGBTQ

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So now what? FC2S does not have all the answers but we know that postsecondary education and training breaks the cycle of poverty that often leads to hopelessness and despair.

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Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram Children, Teen and Family Support Services FOR CHILDREN Therapeutic Services Crisis Services Economic Mobility Program SAFER FOR Families Parenting Classes Group Parent Support Diaper Bank FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE Volunteer Donate Supporters Need Help Now? Give us a call today! (314) 531-0120 Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube Providing Children & Family Services […]

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Angels' Arms - Helping Foster Families Thrive

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Ronnoco Coffee Company has adopted an Angels' Arms house in Ballwin and will provide ongoing support to this family including everything from birthday parties to home maintenance, holiday adoptions and more. We're so grateful to Ronnoco Coffee Company for their commitment to our children. Interested in becoming an Angels' Arms Home Sponsor?

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Providing Dignity, Respect, & Support
Since 2008

Donate Today

Together We Rise Is Now Foster Love

For the past 15 years, we've been humbled to serve the foster care community as Together We Rise. As we've continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of foster youth nationwide we've decided to reignite our commitment and shift towards a name that better reflects our mission of hope.
Learn More About Our Name Change >

Foster Love is a non-profit that makes the foster care experience better for the 430,000 children going through it.

The Foster Care Crisis

There are over 430,000 children in foster care and only 214,421 licensed foster parents. This means foster parents and agencies are often left with limited resources. Together We Rise began as a sports camp offering after-school enrichment to foster youth who otherwise could not afford the activity. As the charity grew, we've tackled larger problems including access to higher education, emergency resources, and more.

When we look at the future of foster care, Foster Love formerly Together We Rise will continue to make adjustments to address the most urgent needs facing foster youth.

#1 Charity for Team Building
in the Country!

Let's Go

Show Your Support

100% Of Proceeds Go Towards Changing The Way Children Experience Foster Care

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No Trash Bags For Kids In Foster Care

When foster children move from home to home, they are usually given two trash bags to carry their belongings in. At Foster Love, we know these children deserve better than that. To help foster kids have more positive experiences, we have volunteers like you decorate, stuff, and donate Sweet Cases all over the United States.

Our Sweet Cases are blue duffle bags stuffed with a teddy bear, a blanket, a hygiene kit, a coloring book, and crayons. Participants can purchase our Sweet Cases to be donated, which directly supports the children in foster care in their areas. Foster Love wants children in foster care to feel like kids, not trash.

Want to Get Involved? Learn More >

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Non-Profit Organization for Foster Children | Foster Love

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Over 430,000 kids are in the U.S. foster care system. Join our mission to transform their experience. Your donation gives them the joy, dignity and comfort they deserve.

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The Reality of Foster Care | Courtney Price-Dukes | TEDxNewmanUniversity

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The Trauma of Being Black in Foster Care | Kizzy Lopez | TEDxFresnoState

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Life in a Trash Bag: Restoring Dignity to Foster Children | Rob Scheer | TEDxTysons

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Adoption and Foster Care Resources for LGBTQ+ Parents

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Whether you are looking to adopt or become a foster parent, LGBTQ+ individuals exploring these avenues to parenthood should be educated and prepared for…

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The Youth Pride Association (YPA) is a nonprofit that works to address the alarming and substantial hardships LGBTQ youth face in schools.

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MOCSA’s mission is to improve the lives of those impacted by sexual abuse and assault and to prevent sexual violence in our community. Together we can create a community free from sexual assault and abuse.

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Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

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How an Order of Protection can help you

For many survivors, becoming a victim of a violent crime is their first introduction to the legal system. It can be complicated and confusing.

Chapter 455 of the Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo) offers legal protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, harassment, and stalking. There are no court costs for this and you do not need to hire an attorney. (Full definition of the law is in Section 455.010 RSMo.) A parent or guardian can also apply for an Order of Protection on behalf of a child younger than 17.

Once issued, an Order of Protection is valid throughout Missouri and in every other state. It should be enforced by law enforcement officers in every state. This also means that if you have an Order of Protection from another state, it is valid in Missouri.

In the legal process, a person who seeks an Order of Protection is called a "Petitioner" and the person whom an order is sought against is called the "Respondent."

After you, as a victim of abuse, complete the written request for a protection order, a judge may issue an Order of Protection to order the Respondent to stop abusing, sexually assaulting, harassing, or stalking you and require the Respondent to stay away from your home or workplace. If you are a sexual assault survivor, you are eligible for an Order of Protection even if you did not know or have a relationship with the perpetrator before the assault. For the purposes of getting an Order of Protection, any sexual act that occurred by force or without your consent is considered sexual assault.

MOCADSV offers several publications and resources to help you understand domestic violence law and how to obtain Orders of Protection.

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How To Get Help - Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

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MOCADSV serves as a public resource for information on domestic and sexual violence, as well as a link to service providers in the state. MOCADSV is not a 24-hour service provider and does not provide crisis services. For immediate help in Missouri, see the map below for local service providers or call the National Domestic [...]

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The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO-NASV) was formed in 1997 to serve as a first-response agency to provide timely, compassionate, coordinated care for child and adult survivors of […]

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Please use the following links to contact Stop It Now!

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FAFSA season is in full swing!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) is the main hub for all college goers to apply for federal and state grants (free money) as well as public loans (borrowed money).

According to StudentAid.gov, over 19 million current and prospective students complete the FAFSA every year. The FAFSA takes into consideration your income and assets to determine how much financial assistance you will need to pay for school.

This application goes live in October of every year for the following academic year, the application for the 2022-2023 academic year just went live on October 1 st.

That doesn't mean that you should wait to apply until right before school starts. The FAFSA has what's called a priority deadline. This means that anyone who completes the FAFSA before the deadline gets priority to receive all eligible aid.

After this deadline, if funding runs out, you aren't guaranteed to receive it. The priority deadline is typically March 2 nd, so even though the 2022-2023 school year seems far off, now is the time to apply for aid and start your school planning.
Why This Matters For Foster Youth
There are a wide range of financial opportunities available to current and former foster youth to help pay for college. If a young person was in foster care for one day after their 13 th birthday and can provide documentation of their foster care status, they could be eligible to receive thousands of dollars in aid.

This could not only pay for their tuition, but also potentially put some money in their pockets to help ease the burden of balancing work and school responsibilities. Because foster youth are considered "independent students," they don't have to report any financial information about biological parents, foster parents or guardians. The only financial information they need to include is their own, making them eligible for many grants that they don't have to pay back.

Sadly, this resource is greatly underutilized by foster youth. According to the John Burton Foundation, only about half of foster youth who enrolled in community college received the Pell Grant even though almost all of them would qualify. That's up to $6,495 in lost financial support for each foster youth who didn't file a FAFSA or didn't file correctly.
The FAFSA Challenge is Here to Help
That's where the FAFSA Challenge comes in.

Sponsored by the John Burton Foundation, the California Foster Youth FAFSA Challenge is a statewide campaign to increase the number of college bound foster youth who complete the FAFSA and receive all the financial aid they are eligible for.

Nationwide, states are hosting their own FAFSA Challenges as well. Partnering with local school districts and Offices of Education, counties host financial aid application nights, spreading the word and making sure that every eligible college bound foster youth completes the FAFSA before the priority deadline.

Youth and caregivers can contact their local county office of education or get in touch with their high school counselor to learn more about the FAFSA Challenge in their area.
iFoster is Joining the Campaign!
The iFoster mission is to bring life changing resources to foster youth, and financial aid can absolutely be the difference between a youth attending college or being unable to access higher education.

As if getting free money for college wasn't enough, any current or former foster youth who completes the FAFSA will also receive a free tablet through iFoster! All you have to do is fill out the form here!

Please join iFoster in spreading the word about financial aid and ensuring that all foster youth who aspire to go to college have the knowledge and resources to help them achieve their dreams.

For more information on how to fill out the FAFSA as a foster youth, click here to access our step by step guide - it's so easy, you can even apply for aid on your phone! Also click here for a guide on college planning!

You can also access the John Burton Financial aid Toolkit here for additional information. The John Burton toolkit is helpful in including the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) financial aid information in addition to the FAFSA guide.

#iamifoster #FosterYouth #OpportunityYouth #LAFosterYouth #TransitionAgeYouth #CurrentandFormerFosterYouth

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FAFSA For Foster Youth: Everything You Need To Know - iFoster

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FAFSA season is in full swing! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) is the main hub for all college goers to apply for federal and state grants (free money) as well as public loans (borrowed money). According to StudentAid.gov, over 19 million current and prospective students complete the FAFSA every year.

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FosterClub | The National Network for Youth in Foster Care

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We are the national network for young people in foster care.

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Our Stories: The FCAA Blog

The National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council were thrilled to meet with key stakeholders from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) this September! Commissioner Jones-Gaston, Associate Commissioner Schomburg and Dae'Shawn Nixon, Senior Advisor for Youth & Family Engagement had a conversation with......

"From the moment a child is removed from their home, they often encounter their first interaction with law enforcement, setting a troubling precedent. As foster youth navigate these institutions, they encounter individuals who believe punitive consequences are an acceptable response to normal childhood and trauma-induced......

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Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) connects the alumni community and transforms policy & practice, ensuring opportunity for people in & from foster care.

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We Feed Over 200,000 People Every Month.

Operation Food Search distributes $30 million worth of food and necessities each year to 330 community partners in 40 Missouri and Illinois counties.

Hunger is a serious problem in the bi-state region, but it is solvable. With the help of our partners, volunteers and donors, we're working together to build a healthier and more vibrant region.

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Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization resources that have been proven to reduce food insecurity.

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We are ordinary people making an extraordinary difference. DID YOU KNOW? IN ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI, THE POVERTY RATE IS 19.6%. THIS MEANS THAT NEARLY ONE IN FIVE RESIDENTS LIVES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, HIGHLIGHTING THE SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE AREA.

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Guardian Angel Settlement Association | First Step on the Path to Possible

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Guardian Angel Settlement Association serves people living in poverty by helping improve the quality of their lives and achieve economic independence.

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Wesley House Association - STL - The House

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Études is a pioneering firm that seamlessly merges creativity and functionality to redefine architectural excellence.