The Facts about Foster Care

Foster Care in California

In California there are over 75,000 children in foster care. Children primarily come into foster care after being neglected, with some suffering physical or sexual abuse.

• 72.5% have been neglected
• 11.8% have been physically abused
• 7.8% have been sexually abuse
• 18.3% have suffered psychological or other maltreatment  

Aspiranet Foster Families

There are over 500 certified Aspiranet families that fostered over 700 children in 2009. Although the foster parent network is large and growing, with more foster families that match the needs of the children that come into care, Aspiranet could have placed an additional 3,000 plus children last year alone.

In 2009, the majority of Aspiranet foster children were reunified with their birth families while an additional 20% were adopted. Following is a breakdown of Aspiranet foster child outcomes in 2009:

Aspiranet's foster children span all age ranges from babies to teens. In 2009, Aspiranet foster children broke down into the following age ranges:

What Does It Take to Be A Foster Parent?

• Desire to love and care for a child in need
• Commitment to being a good parent and ability to maintain a consistent and lasting presence in a foster child's life
• Open, realistic and non judgmental outlook
• Ability to address challenges with patience, sense of humor and flexibility
• Foster parents can be from any ethnic background, marital status, religion, education level and may work full time or part time. You do not need to own your own home to be a foster parent.

What Can You Provide to A Foster Child?

• Support and belief in their potential
• Lifelong connections with their foster and birth families
• A sense of stability and safety
• Attention to the day to day needs that are often taken for granted

The Facts about Foster Care

Foster Care in California

In California there are over 75,000 children in foster care. Children come into foster care when their birth families are unable to care for them primarily due to neglect that may arise from situations such as homelessness, mental health issues, or drug use.  Some have also suffered physical or sexual abuse.

There are over 500 certified Aspiranet families that fostered more than 700 children in 2009. Although the foster parent network is large and growing, with more foster families that match the needs of the children that come into care, Aspiranet could have placed an additional 3,000 plus children last year alone.

When you join the Aspiranet family, you help us in achieving our goal of welcoming an additional 3,000 deserving children into loving foster homes. That means there are 3,000 undiscovered heroes who need someone like you.

In 2009, the majority of Aspiranet foster children were reunited with their birth families while an additional 20% were adopted.

We recognize that children need more than a place to sleep and regular meals. They need permanence. Our most successful stories feature nurturing parent-child relationships that include the normal things children need most from their parents – birthday parties, family events, adventures, support at sports events – and most importantly, building heroes through a lifelong connection.

How Can You Help A Foster Child Become a Hero?

• Support and belief in the child’s potential
• Lifelong connections with foster and birth families
• A sense of stability and safety
• Attention to the day-to-day needs that are often taken for granted