Roots & Wings is changing the lives of aged-out foster youth!
The young people in our program have lived in as many as 20 out-of-home placements before the age of 18. Many of them have been abandoned or endured abuse and neglect. Roots & Wings interventions aim to vastly improve the life outcomes for aged- out foster youth in our program.
Mission
The Mission of Roots & Wings is to provide safe housing, emotional support, life skills, and educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care; empowering them to rise toward their greatest potential.
Youth age out of the foster care system each year in the US. Hundreds of them are in NJ with the majority coming from Newark, Elizabeth, Paterson, Camden, and Plainfield.
40% – 50% of former foster youth become homeless within 18 months after leaving foster care.
Foster youths are 3x more likely to consider suicide and are 4x more likely to have attempted suicide by age 18.
Almost 80% of inmates in our prison systems have spent time in the foster care system.
Generally, only 27% of aged-out foster youth obtain their GED or High School diploma by age 19.
Only 6% go on for a 2- or 4-year degree.
Roots & Wings invests approximately $35,000 per young person, per year to provide them with everything they need to reach their true potential.
“Roots & Wings is so critical because foster youth are often the forgotten ones. Once you turn 18 or graduate high school, you’re on your own and for a kid whose had the system thrown at them and so many obstacles with nobody to depend on, this is a program that they need.”
– Serena, Former Foster Youth
