Kids in Louisiana's foster care system are more likely to end up in prison than to earn a high school diploma, but a local nonprofit is trying to change that, the Advocate reports.
According to data from the Annie E.
Casey Foundation, 56% of Louisiana's foster children who turned 21 in 2021 and had been through the foster care system had been incarcerated by their 21st birthday.
About 50% of those same young adults would get their high school diploma or an equivalent by the time they turned 21.
"Our goal is to empower these young people with the resources and tools necessary for them to live their full potential and purpose," says Kevin Guillory, president of The Family Connection, which is hosting a "Life Prep Course" on Aug.
19 to help them navigate adult life, including health and nutrition, housing and home management, and money and risk management.
In 2006, 30% of Louisiana's foster children were 14 or older.
In 2021, that number was 24%.
Black children are far more likely to end up in prison than white children: About 61% of the foster children in Louisiana in 2021 were Black, while the state's general population is 38% Black.
About 3% were Hispanic, up from 1% in 2006.
Louisiana doesn't allow people to stay in
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