Torossian is the CEO of Promises2Kids, a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 as the Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse. She lives in Talmadge.
At 21 years old, I had never heard much about foster care. Coming from a loving and nurturing family, I could never imagine a child being abused. As I began my journey to become a dedicated and passionate advocate for child welfare, I met incredible children and teens who had been severely abused by their parents and thrown into the system. . I thought they were safe and that they would grow up and be cared for as foster children. It turns out that's not the case. During that time, the system was not a safe place for children.
Today, as the CEO of Promises2Kids, I continue my personal and professional mission to create brighter futures for foster children. Each year, Promises2Kids helps more than 2,000 current and former foster children in San Diego County address the circumstances that led them to foster care, overcome past challenges, and become healthy, happy, and successful adults. We provide you with the tools, opportunities, and guidance you need to grow. .
However, homelessness continues among foster youth who transition out of the program. According to the National Institutes of Health, older youth who leave foster care are at higher risk of becoming homeless during the transition to adulthood. Thirty-one percent to 46 percent of the study's participants experienced homelessness at least once by age 26. Escape while in foster care, more precarious placement, being male, having a history of physical abuse, more delinquent behavior, and symptoms of mental health disorders. , was associated with an increased relative risk of becoming homeless. Helping adoptive families prevent homelessness has long been one of my passions.
At Promises2Kids, we advocate for the well-being of foster youth facing the challenges of leaving foster care. Through our mental health therapists, programs, Camp Connect, Guardian Scholars, Foster Fund, AB and Jesse Polinsky Children's Center, we work diligently and diligently to help young people transition into adulthood. . More than 20 years ago, we launched Guardian Scholars to provide a pathway to post-secondary education for those who grew up in foster care. Guardian Scholars has an 85% acceptance rate, but fewer than 10% of foster youth nationwide graduate from college.
The reality for foster youth is that due to basic income levels, lack of support networks, and San Diego's rising cost of living, many struggle to meet basic food and housing needs. That's why our mission is more important than ever, especially when it comes to helping young people avoid homelessness. In fact, former foster youth are one of the groups most at risk of becoming homeless, with approximately 30% of them becoming homeless within 18 to 24 months of leaving foster care at the age of 21. .
Nationally, 47% of people are unemployed and 33% are on welfare after finishing nursing care. California remains the state with the highest overall population of people experiencing homelessness and the highest number of unaccompanied homeless youth, according to federal statistics. More than 2,000 youth experience homelessness in San Diego County, making up approximately 20 percent of the county's unsheltered homeless population, according to San Diego Youth Services. The reported number of homeless youth is likely significantly lower.
What can we do to address this problem? At the end of the day, it's the human element that matters, from young people coming out of foster care to young people in low- and middle-income settings facing options for continuing education. It is an understanding that young people have common needs that need to be addressed. Promises2Kids is establishing an intensive prevention-based diversion program with guaranteed income support for 50 of San Diego's most at-risk adults, former foster youth. While they receive a guaranteed income, we help them earn higher wages, secure career-focused jobs, increase financial literacy, access community resources, and provide a strong support system through mentorship. We will increase our ability to develop. I found that mentorship was key.
One study, “Natural Mentoring and Psychosocial Outcomes in Older Adults Transitioning from Foster Care,” explains: ”
Foster youth, and youth in general, need clear options available to them, the resources to decide which options provide the best path forward, and the support systems to make that happen.
