Child Abuse is Linked with Youth and Family Homelessness
The Statistics
In Orange County alone:
· Almost 38,000 reports of suspected child abuse, neglect or abandonment in Orange County with age ranges from
newborns to teens from every ethnic group. (fiscal year 2009/2010)
· Child abuse cases occur in every area in the County: North=31%, South=20%, West=19%, Central=26%, Out-of-
County/Unknown=4%
· In an average month, over 3,600 children are dependents of the court and of those 2,600 children had to be removed
from their home.
· Approximately 200-250 foster care teens each year emancipate or “age-out” of the dependency system at age 18.
Child Abuse and Neglect is a major cause of youth homelessness and the vicious cycle (trap) of poverty.
For Foster Youth In California:
· 65% emancipated youth (transition to adulthood) are without a place to live.
· Former foster youth make up 40% of the homeless shelter population, even though foster children comprise less than
0.3% of the state’s population,
· 51% of youth are unemployed within 2-4 years of emancipation.
Child Abuse and Neglect is a major cause of social conditions that contribute to poverty, family homelessness and other social ills. In California:
Not getting an education:
· 43% of foster youth are moved 3 or more times and 11% are moved 5 or more times.
· It takes approximately 4-6 months for a child to recover academically after changing schools.
· Changing schools during high school diminishes the chances for graduation.
· 46% of teens leaving the foster care system have NOT completed high school, versus 16% of the general population.
· Fewer than 10% of foster youth who graduate high school go on to college. Fewer than 2% of those receive a college
degree.
Poverty and Family Homelessness
· 67% of females who emancipated from the child welfare system had at least one birth within five years of leaving care.
· Emancipated females are four times more likely to receive public assistance than the general population.
Crime:
· Over 70% of all State Penitentiary inmates have spent time in the foster care system.