In the United States, more than 390,000 children are currently in foster care. Each year, between 19,000 and 30,000 youth “age out” of the system without permanent families or lifelong supports. The ...

Each year, over 20 thousand foster youth age out of care at 18 years old. While testifying before Congress, one former foster youth said, “When I graduated high school, the adults I relied on vanished ...

The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) works with families and communities to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. DCF social workers partner with caregivers to work with ...

Children who enter foster care have interrupted childhoods, often with multiple transitions between new and often unknown caregivers, schools, and friends. While successfully transitioning into ...

FAMILY GATHERING: Nikki Owen, left, is pictured with her three children, parents, brother and her brother’s girlfriend. After years in the foster care system, Owen was adopted when she was 17. Photo ...

Before we meet the people, let’s look at the big picture: what is foster care, and how does it work in our state? Foster care is a safety net for children who can’t safely stay in their homes. When ...