Hope Restoration Ministries
Restoring Hope to the Broken, One Life at a Time
Who We Serve
Hope Restoration Ministries' target population is young women between the ages of 18-25, who are homeless, and/or aged out of the foster care system.
Needs Assessment for Transitional Housing
According to national estimates, approximately 20,000 children "age out" of foster care each year.1 A child "ages" out of foster care at the age of 18. This means the child has been discharged from care and will no longer be provided care by the government. Many of these young adults are forced into independence, with little to no resources to help them assume adult responsibilities. Outlined below are highlighted risk factors and future difficulties that these young adults may face when leaving the foster care system.
Risk Factors for Youth Leaving the Foster System
Homelessness
Numbers of homeless youth are the products of the
foster care system.2 Many youth who aged out of foster care report being homeless at some
point in time after discharge. Approximately 10% of females report being
homeless at least once since their discharge from foster care services.3 At such a critical
stage of development, these young adults, who should be focused on
establishing themselves as independent members of society, struggle with
finding housing on their own.
Employment & Job Training
Due to limited work
histories and/or lackluster job training, many former foster children
will face difficulty finding employment. In a multi-state study of
youth exiting the foster care system, three-fourths reported not getting
any type of career counseling and over 50% reported no training with regards
to job applications or interviewing.
Substance Use and Abuse
Foster care youth are a vulnerable group with a high risk for substance use and abuse. In this population of youth illegal drugs are used because of experimentation, peer pressure, self-medication due to lack of health care and coping mechanisms for stress.4
Health and Well-Being
Many youth, upon
leaving foster care, face additional issues regarding their physical
and mental health. Unexpected pregnancies are often faced by many newly
emancipated youth. Unstable housing situations, limited life skills, a
yearning for love and something to nurture5 and family
patterns of instability and risk can all contribute to the early
childbearing found within this group.
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
2005
2
5