There are 500,000 foster children in the United States and 3,500,000 reports of abuse annually. By the age of 18 statistics show that 60% of male foster children will be incarcerated and 60% of female foster children will be pregnant and/or on welfare. Only 3% of foster children go to college.
- Abused adolescents are three times more likely to get addicted to drugs, to commit crimes and to repeat one grade at least once,
- Abused girls are 50% more likely to get pregnant out of wedlock.
- Abused teenagers are 4 times more likely to have serious anxiety and depression that can lead to suicide, in fact 6 times more likely to commit suicide
In Colorado, there are 8,000 foster children, 75,000 referrals for abuse, 40,000 investigations, 7.9% yearly increase in abuse cases and only 10-20% placement. Demographics are 43.8% White, 36.3% Hispanic, 13.8% Black, 0.1% Asian and 0.9% American Indian.