Social & Economic Mobility
Breaking Barriers to Opportunity
For young people aging out of foster care, the journey to economic security and social mobility is filled with obstacles. From unstable housing and educational disruptions to limited professional networks and financial insecurity, the deck is often stacked against them. At NFYI, we believe every foster youth deserves the chance to build a stable future, which is why our programs focus on expanding opportunities and removing systemic barriers that stand in their way.
Understanding the Challenges
Foster youth face significant systemic hurdles that limit their ability to achieve long-term stability and success. These challenges include:
Educational Barriers. Just 55% of foster youth graduate from high school by age 19, compared to 87% of the general population. In Los Angeles, the graduation rate is even lower at 58%. While tuition waivers exist, fewer than 5% of foster youth earn a college degree, often due to financial strain, housing instability, and lack of academic support.
Employment Gaps. By age 24, only 50% of former foster youth are employed, compared to 75% of their peers. Those who do find jobs often earn 50% less than their non-foster care counterparts. In Los Angeles, just 40% of former foster youth are employed by age 21.
Financial Insecurity. Foster youth frequently struggle with credit issues, debt, and a lack of financial education. They have limited opportunities to build wealth, lack access to savings programs, and don’t have generational wealth to fall back on. Although extended care benefits provide some support until age 21, many struggle financially once they age out of the system.
NFYI’s Approach: Investing in the Future
NFYI is committed to empowering foster youth by addressing these systemic barriers through policy advocacy and direct programming. We focus on:
Increasing Educational Attainment : Ensuring foster youth receive the support they need in K-12 education to meet college and trade school requirements. This includes addressing barriers to school stability, investing in tutoring and pre-college programs, and expanding financial aid awareness.
Expanding Workforce Development : Boosting access to youth leadership and workforce development programs starting at age 16 and extending through age 30, including youth-specific apprenticeship programs.
Supporting Employment and Transportation Needs : Ensuring foster youth have access to transportation for work, preventing employment opportunities from being revoked as a form of placement discipline, and advocacy around providing funding for driver’s education and car insurance.
Building Financial Stability : Increasing access to financial literacy programs, mentorship opportunities, and wealth-building initiatives tailored to foster youth.
Creating Meaningful Career Opportunities : Expanding internships and fellowships in fields of interest to current and former foster youth, providing networking opportunities that open doors to future employment.
Higher Education and the Role It Plays
Higher education is one of the most reliable paths to economic stability. Yet, for many foster youth, access to college remains a challenge. Between frequent school moves, limited financial resources, and a lack of family support, the odds of completing a degree are low. Studies show that only 3-4% of former foster youth earn a bachelor’s degree, and just 2-6% complete a two-year degree.
NFYI is working to change these statistics. We’ve worked with members of Congress to support legislation that bolsters on-campus resources for foster youth, and we collaborate with academic institutions to conduct targeted outreach to students from foster care backgrounds. In 2020, NFYI joined organizations nationwide to advocate for a $500 million increase in federal Chafee funding, helping to provide tuition, housing, and other essential supports for young people pursuing higher education or career training.
Policy Recommendations for Social and Economic Mobility
To create real, lasting change, we must invest in the future of foster youth. NFYI advocates for policies that:
1
Increase funding for youth leadership and workforce development programs, starting at age 16 and continuing through age 30.
2
Increase funding for youth leadership and workforce development programs, starting at age 16 and continuing through age 30.
3
Fund programs that help foster youth obtain driver’s licenses and car insurance, improving access to employment opportunities.
4
Expand tutoring, pre-college programs, and K-12 educational support to ensure more foster youth meet college and trade school entry requirements.
5
Increase access to mentorship programs that connect foster youth with both peer and professional mentors.
6
Grow internship and fellowship opportunities for current and former foster youth to gain valuable work experience in their fields of interest.
Policy Recommendations for Social and Economic Mobility
To create real, lasting change, we must invest in the future of foster youth. NFYI advocates for policies that:
1
Increase funding for youth leadership and workforce development programs, starting at age 16 and continuing through age 30.
2
Increase funding for youth leadership and workforce development programs, starting at age 16 and continuing through age 30.
3
Fund programs that help foster youth obtain driver’s licenses and car insurance, improving access to employment opportunities.
4
Expand tutoring, pre-college programs, and K-12 educational support to ensure more foster youth meet college and trade school entry requirements.
5
Increase access to mentorship programs that connect foster youth with both peer and professional mentors.
6
Grow internship and fellowship opportunities for current and former foster youth to gain valuable work experience in their fields of interest.
NFYI IN ACTION
Foster youth deserve the same opportunities as their peers to build successful, stable lives. By investing in their education, employment, and financial well-being, we can break down systemic barriers and open doors to lasting social and economic mobility. NFYI is committed to making this vision a reality by advocating for policies that support foster youth and developing programs that empower them to thrive.
These policy recommendations are part of our three-year campaign, Urgency to Act: Unlocking Foster Youth Wellbeing, designed by NFYI staff, youth members, and researchers.