Foster Care

There are more than 32,000 children overseen by the already overburdened Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services. Almost two-thirds of these youngsters, about 20,000, are in foster care, group homes, or staying with relatives. In a single month more than 1,250 children were referred to the agency because of alleged sexual abuse; 2,543 for physical abuse; and more than 3,900 for neglect. Children are suffering in every category. Statewide some 75,000 children are in the foster care system. Nationally, the number is an astonishing 510,000.

Between DCFS's first contact with a foster child and the outcome of his or her case, the child often needs services that are difficult to find or fund. Child welfare agencies only meet the needs of their wards by developing relationships with private and non-profit agencies. Without extensive commitments from private and non-profit agencies, the foster care system will remain in crisis.

CARRY provides support for the already overburdened foster care system by working with a variety of foster care homes in the Los Angeles area. With these children CARRY offers hope and promise for a better future.