The Orphans of the USA and Latin America

By Penny Young Nance and Glorya Taylor Jordan, Special to CP

May 30, 2013|11:34 am There is a quiet crisis playing out in our nation that most women don't know exists. We all desire that every child in America grow up in a stable, loving, safe home. Unfortunately, that isn't happening for tens of thousands of 
little ones.

USA:

• There are over 120,000 orphans in America, while another 400,000 children live without permanent families (HHS; AFCARS).
• It is common for children in foster care to age out, leaving them with little financial or emotional support. 27,000 children age out of the system every year (AFCARS).
• Almost 25% of youth aging out did not have a high school diploma or GED (University of Chicago).

Latin America:

• 7.5 million girls are married before age 18 in Latin America and the Caribbean.(UNICEF)
• There are 10.2 million orphaned children in Latin America, 5% of all children in the region. (UNICEF)
• • Women and children are especially vulnerable in Latin America; underage minors represent 50% of people living in extreme poverty. (World Bank).http://www.sos-usa.org/getmedia/246fc337-bbf2-4dc0-9b0d-22a52ff92dab/tpa-picture-64753.jpg?ext=.jpg