We believe by taking care of each of them, we believe they pay it forward and take care of our youth and their families.
The state of mental health around the world has garnered increasing attention, with particular concern for young people. Nearly 25% of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death among adolescents. The prevalence ofsocial media, academic pressures, economic uncertainties, and the COVID-19 pandemic era have created a complex landscape that poses significant threats to the mental wellbeing of children and teens, leading the surgeon general to declare a mental health crisis in 2023.
Our nation’s child welfare system strives to protect children from physical harm and abuse.
The system was built to ensure children have safe, permanent homes. According to the most recent federal data, there are more than 380,000 children in foster care in the United States and all of these children have experienced loss and some form of trauma.
35% of these youth experience more than 2 placements during their time in foster care.
Addressing the youth mental health crisis requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. It is crucial for society to prioritize the mental well-being of its youth to ensure a healthier and more resilient future generation. At Chosen we step in to serve not only youth but their entire family system to help them create healthy relational connections. Our programs interrupt the cycle of trauma-related behaviors. Chosen shifts the focus from physical safety to mental and behavioral well-being, putting families on a path of healing – together.
1 out of 4 families who adopt a child end up dissolving their adoption, resulting in the child placed back into foster care.
The average foster child spends almost 2 years in care.
More than half of children in foster care will be reunified with their parents or primary caregivers and nearly one quarter will be adopted.
Youth in foster care are diagnosed with a mental health disorder at 4 times the rate of typical youth.
35% of youth in foster care are prescribed at least one psychotropic medication compared to 9% of other Medicaid-enrolled youth.
Each year approximately 20,000 youth will age out of the foster care system when they turn 18 or 21. These children are at increased risk of poor educational outcomes, experiencing homelessness, and being unemployed.
