Want to know what our immediate needs are?

Each child deserves the nurturing care and protection offered by a family.

Regrettably, this is not the reality for hundreds of thousands of children across the United States.

  • According to UNICEF data, approximately 140 million to 153 million children worldwide are classified as orphans, having lost one (single orphan) or both (double orphan) parents due to all causes.

    Worldwide

    According to UNICEF data, approximately 140 million to 153 million children are classified as orphans, having lost one (single orphan) or both (double orphan) parents due to all causes.

  • In 2023, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) estimates there are 343,077 children in the U.S. child welfare system.

    In the U.S.

    child welfare system, according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), there are an estimated 343,077 orphaned children.

  • A black and white photograph of children walking on a dirt road, viewed from above. One child in the foreground is smiling at the camera, wearing a dark shirt. Other children are visible in the background, walking behind the smiling child.

    In Alabama

    there are 5,821 children in out-of-home placements and 2,474 children in licensed foster care homes.

What age are youth in foster care?

Youth in foster care encompass a wide age range, from newborns to individuals up to 21 years old, with the average age typically falling between 7 and 8 years. While a considerable number of these youths are under the age of 10, a significant proportion are teenagers. Additionally, many states provide extended care services for young adults, allowing support until the age of 21.

Orphaned children, often affected by crises, HIV/AIDS, or poverty, strain social, educational, and healthcare services. Without intervention, they face higher risks of exploitation, crime, and isolation. Establishing strong support systems is essential to foster their growth and break cycles of poverty and trauma.