As of 2018, 17,500 youth were in the Texas foster care system (Pathway, n.d.). In 2020, 38.9% were youth between the ages of 10 and 17. Older youth are less likely to be adopted or placed in a foster home and are often sent to live in group homes (Pathway, n.d.). These youth are in need of support from a caring adult.

It’s often assumed that the only way to help youth in foster care is by becoming a foster parent. While this is a noble way to help, it’s not the only way. Becoming a mentor to youth is a great way to support and expose them to positive influences. According to MENTOR National, youth with a mentor are more likely to get involved in extracurricular activities (MENTOR National, 2015).

A mentor can assist in the positive youth development of youth by promoting positive attitudes, skills and behaviors (Texas Youth Action Network, 2020). The goal of positive youth development is to help shape youth into self-sufficient adults. Mentors or “caring adults” are an excellent way to do this. These caring adults can become a support system for youth in the foster care system. Mentors not only help foster youth while they’re in the system; but also prepare them for life after they age out.

Below we have included a few mentoring organizations. Find one near you!

What happens to youth when they age out of the foster care system is often overlooked. Youth who have aged out of the system enter the real world unprepared. Of youth who age out of foster care, 20% become homeless and have a 70% chance of becoming pregnant before the age of 21 (Sorrell, 2017). As a caring adult, you can help youth prepare for their adult life. According to one of our Community Partners, the city of Bryan, Texas, it’s important for youth to consider the following (the city of Bryan):

To view more information about our Community Partner and see how they have helped foster youth in their community, visit their Community Partner bio!

For more information about mentoring youth, please visit the following site: https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/

For more information on how to help youth prepare for life after foster care, please visit the following site: https://www.bryantx.gov/foster-children-getting-a-great-start-online-resource-to-life-work-and-money/?hilite=%27foster%27%2C%27youth%27

Pathway. “Foster care Statistics.” (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.pathway.org/programs/foster-care/statistics/

The City of Bryan. “Foster children: Getting a great start: Online resource to life, work and money.” (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.bryantx.gov/foster-children-getting-a-great-start-online-resource-to-life-work-and-money/?hilite=%27foster%27%2C%27youth%27

MENTOR National. “Mentoring impact: Connect with a Young Person.” (2020, October 15). Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/

Sorrell, C., McJoe, B., Herbert, & Wiley, D. (2020, July 29). “51 useful aging out of foster Care STATISTICS: Social RACE MEDIA”. National Foster Youth Institute. Retrieved April 15, 2021, from https://nfyi.org/51-useful-aging-out-of-foster-care-statistics-social-race-media/#:~:text=More%20than%2023%2C000%20children%20will,by%20the%20age%20of%2024.

Texas Youth Action Network. “Our Approach” (March 2021). Retrieved April 15, 2021, from https://tyan.tamu.edu/our-approach/