Nevaeh Sanchez, left, and Birdie Gonzales, right, both aged out of New Mexico’s foster care system last year. One of them landed on a path toward stability; the other had trouble finding her way.
By Kitra Cahana and Ed Williams, Photo: Kitra Cahana, Pro Publica, November 6, 2023
Last year, 63 kids in New Mexico turned 18 and aged out of foster care. It’s a fraught time; after spending their lives in a system that micromanages their every move, the teens are thrust into adulthood, left to fend for themselves while struggling with the aftereffects of a childhood often spent cycling among foster homes. Some thrive. Many do not.
Roughly 30% of foster youth end up homeless after aging out of foster care, national studies show. An estimated 1 in 4 end up incarcerated.
The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department has made efforts to reverse those grim statistics. Notably, CYFD launched its Fostering Connections program in 2020 for youth who age out of the foster system. It offers some assistance with housing, food and behavioral health care.
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