The Need
The foster care system is designed to keep children safe – to find them a bed, to make sure their most basic needs are being met. But for youth who “age out” of foster care, outcomes are bleak. Story on the Need of Support
20,000
Youth “age out” of foster care each year in the US at age 18 or 21
17% of youth in care in Illinois are ages 16-20, an important age range when youth are preparing for adulthood.
By age 21, national data show that many young people transitioning out of foster care continue to face barriers to education, employment, and housing stability.
84% of Illinois youth with foster care experience aspire to attend college, while only 8-12% of young people with foster care experience nationwide complete a college degree.
Foster Progress was founded on the principle that youth need more than the basics.
They need hope and a vision for the future.
In Illinois, we compared the number of youth who filled out the FAFSA (the first step in applying for financial aid) to those who actually enroll in college and those who will likely end up graduating. These numbers make a clear case for programming like ours that prepare and support foster youth in their pursuit of higher education.
Learn more about the impact Foster Progress is having here in Illinois.
Page Sources: Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2025 systematic review, Illinois DCFS