What is a foster child?
A foster child is a child that has been abused, abandoned or neglected by their parent or parents and who has been removed from the home by the county.

How many foster youth are there in Los Angeles?
There are more than 40,000 foster youth in the County of Los Angeles - half of the state’s population of foster youth reside here. There are nearly a half million foster youth in the United States - one in nine of whom are in L.A. County.

How much does it cost to fund foster care?
Nationally, the direct cost of foster care amounts to nearly $25 billion. In California, it costs approximately $2.2 billion annually and countywide, Los Angeles spends nearly $1.4 billion per year.

What does it mean to be emancipated from foster care?
When a child in foster care turns eighteen, they emancipate or “age out” from the foster care system. This means that they are no longer a dependent of the State and are responsible for their own well-being. A former foster youth not enrolled in a program faces the challenges of finding housing, work and enrolling in school alone.

If I know of a youth that could benefit from services at UFC can I refer that child?
Yes. UFC wants interested parties to refer youth in need. Once referred, we can determine if our services meet the needs of the youth. If we don’t have the services available or the proper resources, we will make every attempt to refer you or the youth to an organization that can provide adequate support.

Does UFC provide services for foster youth only?
Yes. UFC is dedicated to helping foster youth and former foster youth in Los Angeles County. That means that the youth has to be registered as a foster child with Los Angeles’ Department of Children and Family Services or Probation Department.

Is UFC a Foster Family Agency?
No. Although we provide financial support to select foster families, we are not a Foster Family Agency. A Foster Family Agency (FFA) is a licensed, private nonprofit entity that recruits and certifies family homes for its exclusive use. It provides training and professional social worker support to foster parents.

Is UFC a part of the Department of Children and Family Services?
No. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is a collaborative partner with UFC. UFC is a private nonprofit organization.