Black History month: wellness in foster care

There are few, if any, recent studies specific to the health and wellness of Black youth in foster care. However, there is data on the wellbeing of youth in placement overall, as well as the demographics of the young people in care. 

For example, the National Foster Youth Institute cites that “on average, 4 out of every 5 children and adolescents enter foster care with serious mental health issues.” Half of the youth emancipated from foster care have a chronic health condition and only one third have insurance at emancipation. A 2013 report by the Advisory Committee on Minority Health further found that “50 percent of children of color in foster care for a period of 18 months or more were considered to be in poor health.” 

It is also known that, despite only making up 13.71% of the population, Black youth account for 22.75% of children/adolescents in foster care. 

All of those numbers combined add up to a large population of young people whose health - mental, physical and emotional - is at stake.

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