By Luis De La Cruz | Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation
While turning 18 for most teenagers means graduation parties, moving into college dorms or starting a new chapter of life with newfound and exciting independence, that’s not the case for some teens aging out of the foster care system.
Instead, turning 18 means being immediately cut off from the only resources and support you have known most of your life. This abrupt transition to adulthood can come as a devastating blow to an already-traumatic childhood.
Often this means a direct pathway to homelessness, insufficient education, underemployment and an increased likelihood of being involved with the criminal justice system by the age of 27.
The negative outcomes associated with aging out of the foster care system oftentimes are not considered by many Arizonans, who may not conceive that these youth not only lack a traditional support system, but are often alone in navigating adulthood and the challenges of independence with little to no safety nets, experience or guidance.
Where are their vital documents? Who teaches them how to drive? Who waits for them on the other side of the stage when they graduate high school? Who helps them enroll in college or prepares them for their first job interview? Who picks them up at the end of the college semester to take them back home?
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation is a statewide nonprofit working to address the disparities faced by those impacted by foster care, including youth who age out of the foster care system. AFFCF closes financial barriers to education, increases employment and education attainment and supports stable housing. Last year alone, it supported close to 600 young adults ages 16 to 26 across Arizona.
The path to self-sufficiency is not traditional or linear for those aging out of the system. Beyond funding and short-lived touchpoints, we must provide meaningful, human-centered connections and supports — regularly checking in, giving youth the space and grace to fail and recover and activating impactful programs and services.
AFFCF’s Keys to Success program, which serves older foster youth aged 16 to 26 in Pima, Maricopa and Yavapai counties, was designed to ensure that those about to, or already aged out of the foster care system, can achieve baseline goals that will set them on the path to self-sufficiency.
Of the 473 youth served through Keys to Success in 2024, 88% secured and maintained employment within a year of participating.
AFFCF’s post-secondary program for youth ages 18 to 26 pursuing a two-year or four-year college education helps bridge some cost of attendance gaps and comes with emergency funding support and dedicated staff to ensure that when life happens, students focus forward and don’t deprioritize their education. We find that when our college students feel that there is nobody to call, they often call us.
This support is made possible through the philanthropy of individuals, businesses and contributions from the community.
Editor’s note: Luis De La Cruz is president and CEO of the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that empowers children and youth in foster care. He lives in Buckeye. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
