Foster kids ‘aging out’ too soon?

The Richmond Times-Dispatch, By Zachary Reid, Nov 15, 2009, Richmond, VA --

The 19-year-old woman in the middle of the second row of the history class looks like any other college student.

She is every bit the bookish student, more interested in grades than gossip.

Higher Education

Education and Training Vouchers

The Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) Program assists eligible foster care and adopted youth with post-secondary education and training expenses. It is designed to help youth aging out of foster care with the education, training and services needed for employment.

Youth Advisory Council

Virginia Youth Advisory Council: The Ymedia Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was created with a vision, from a couple of teenagers, to unite all of the Ymedia sites.

With this goal in mind, the council began, bringing together six middle and high schools from across Hampton Roads.

The Orphan Foundation Care Package Volunteer Event

The Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) administers funding to foster youth attending colleges and trade schools nationwide. OFA’s work promotes the promise and potential of these students who are without the benefit of parental guidance and support.

Statistics

There are 7,022 children in foster care in the state of Virginia.

Who are Virginia's children waiting in the foster care system?

7,022 children in foster care
18.3% of foster children are between ages of 0 and 5
21.9% of foster children are between ages of 6 and 12