Some Unique Challenges for Young People in Foster Care
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Sibling separation
Often brothers and sisters who enter foster care are not able to live together. It is not uncommon to hear stories of how communication was restricted while in foster care and siblings lose contact with each other. Read more...
Overnights not allowed
“Hey, can you spend the night this
Saturday?” Imagine answering that question with, “Are your parents willing to get a police background check first?” For some foster youth, this is a requirement.
No pets
Kids who enter foster care, in most cases, are not allowed to bring their pets with them.
Happy 18th Birthday
For some teens the only 18th birthday present they receive is a plastic bag to put their stuff in and a bus pass. Then they are informed they will have to find a new place to live.
Minutes to go
When youth first go into foster care, they often have just minutes to pack. And often they must quickly stuff belongings into bags to transport it.
Driver’s license
Many states do not allow kids in foster care to get a driver’s license. This can make it hard for a youth to prepare for life on their own by getting a job, particularly if they live in a rural area that has no public transportation.
FosterClub All-Star Kita Anderson talks about trying to get a license. watch the video
Does your state have a policy on driver's licenses? find out here
Holidays for college students
Most colleges close campus housing (dorms) during holiday breaks. Many youth report sleeping in their cars during these breaks because they have nowhere else to go.
See more in our Holidays topics section...
Vacations optional
Foster families often cannot afford to bring their foster children on vacations or they choose not to. If a family travels out of state, sometimes foster children are not allowed to go.
Losing my religion
Because there is a shortage of foster homes across the country,
moving in foster care may mean that a young person must move
to a new city or county. Often it is not possible to stay connected to their church or to continue to play on a sports team because of the distance.
See our topics page for more...
> Go back to the Foster Care Facts page
