The Challenge
For many children, the path to adulthood is rough. Right now, more than 435,000 children are growing up in foster homes; 120,000 have been permanently separated from their parents and are waiting for adoption; 20,000 will turn 18 and “age out” without family support. We have a responsibility to do better. Preserving and strengthening families can allow children to grow up safely in their own homes without the trauma of family separation, and effective services can be the bridge to adulthood for young people who leave foster care alone.
Our Approach
Decades of experience and research have taught us this: a family does a better job of raising a child than the state. We provide and advocate for innovative, evidence-based, family-focused services designed to bring help and hope to children and their families, as well as proven services for young adults turning 18 in foster care.
1 in 20
children and youth in the U.S. are in state foster care systems
120,000+
are waiting for a new family through adoption
Our Impact
We’re changing the lives of thousands of children, families and young people every year through our direct services and partnerships with organizations and agencies around the country. Our work is to transform children’s systems, deepen our impact and deliver better results one child and one family at a time.
States
Locations
%
success rate
- Youth Villages States
- Partnering States
Lasting Change
Former LifeSetTM participant, Mariah, shares her story of how this Youth Villages program impacted her life.
Stories of Hope
Helping children and families live successfully
Antioch High School students focus on Thrive for scholarship-awarding research project
Thrive in Middle Tennessee was selected by the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce and InfoWorks for a scholarship-awarding research project with Antioch High School students where they aim to solve a “business problem” for a local organization.
7 subtle signs of child abuse and neglect that are overlooked or missed
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Unfortunately for many children, their abuse goes unnoticed, unseen or hidden from the public eye. Some child abuse is visible, and yet there are those who still do nothing to help.
My LifeSet Specialist inspired me to pursue social work
I was 17 and in foster care when I had my son. I was on track to graduate high school but didn’t think college was an option for a young mom without any family support. Then, I got connected with my LifeSet specialist.
MAKE A CAREER OUT OF CHANGING LIVES
Do you share our passion for helping children and families live successfully? We’ve got a place for you.