About 100 young people become too old to continue in the foster care system each year in Marion County. Over a 10-year period, 1,000 local foster care children will turn 18 and “age out” of foster care.

Currently, an estimated 40 percent of young people aging out of foster care become homeless or incarcerated within 18 months. No longer the responsibility of the state, many of these young people are left on their own and lack the skills and supports to make a successful transition to healthy and self sufficient adulthood. Many of these teens end up sleeping in cars or “couch surfing” for days, weeks, and months on end. This way of life makes it increasingly difficult for youth to take the steps necessary to achieve self sufficiency.