The Issue

California has the largest number of children and youth in foster care of any state in the nation with approximately 83,000 children in care. Each year over 4,000 of those youth emancipate from the system as they turn 18 years old. They exit largely unprepared for managing life on their own. For many of these young people the outcome of "public parenting" is unemployment, under-education, homelessness and prison. Learn more about current outcomes for foster youth.

Critical Needs

The task force repeatedly heard five areas of critical needs for youth leaving the system. Those areas are housing, employment, education, mental and behavioral health, and permanency.

The Possibility

CCS Partnership believes that together, we can ensure these youth leave the system with the following assets:

1. Connections to adults who care about them and will remain connected to them throughout their lives;
2. Knowledge of and access to support systems, including housing, employment support, educational options, and health care
3. A high School diploma;
4. Work experience;
5. A safe, stable place to live;
6. Opportunity to continue their education; and
7. Financial resources.

Roadmap to Action

CCS Partnership offers 15 point Roadmap to Action that includes:

1. Learning about the issue
2. Addressing the issue collaboratively
3. Proactively Train Care Givers and Youth
4. Upholding Existing Law

Cities, Counties and Schools Leading the Way

Learn what some jurisdictions are already doing.

Glossary of Terms

Additional Resources