Older Youth Advocacy

In 2022, there were 5,600 youth aged 14-17 in foster care in Texas, facing difficult questions about their transition to adulthood. Of those youth, 1,087 aged out of care with no network available, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, trafficking and poor life prospects. Challenges include difficulty of finding family members who are willing to engage with CASA or the child’s caseworker, knowing how to work with youth who have experienced severe trauma, and because the system is difficult to navigate making it key for volunteers to understand the challenges and needs associated with advocating for this most vulnerable population.