Foster Care Facts

Child Abuse is the 3rd cause of death of American children under the age of 4
Every 10 seconds a child abuse report is placed
About 70,000 calls of suspected abuse come into San Diego’s Child Abuse Hotline each year
On average, 5 children die every day in the United States as a result of child abuse or neglect
68% of the children killed as a result of abuse are younger than 3 years old
Children ages 0-3 are the most likely to experience abuse
5 children need out-of-home placement each day in San Diego County due to abuse and neglect
San Diego County has a child abuse rate of 5 per 1,000, higher than state averages

At least 22% of foster youth in California experience 4 or more placements
Studies have shown that an average of 61% of children entering the foster care system test positive for developmental delay – In sharp contrast, the general population averages 4 to 10%
In San Diego County, 35% of foster youth are separated from 1 or more siblings
Many young children who enter the foster care system are further traumatized as they are placed in a different home than their brother or sister
San Diego County’s Black children population is 5%, of that, 18% are in foster care

Foster youth who experience more placements are nearly 15% less likely to complete high school when compared to their peers
Only 71% will receive a high school diploma by age 19
While 93% of foster youth state they want to attend college, just 4% of former foster youth obtain a bachelor’s degree by 26

Approximately 100 EFC foster youth will age out from the foster care system each year in San Diego County, most with no support or plan in place to secure a healthy future
1 in 3 former foster youth will be homeless during their first two years after exiting foster care
60% of girls become pregnant by age 19 after leaving the foster care system
47% of youth leaving foster care are unemployed

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