How the system failed us: Former foster youth tell their stories
An investigation into the foster care system reveals that children with disabilities face significantly worse outcomes and longer stays in institutional care. Former foster youth share personal stories of being moved between facilities, highlighting systemic failures.
Why it matters
The findings expose critical gaps in the child welfare system's ability to support vulnerable youth with disabilities.
Tyrome Laundersville was 9 years old and he didn't understand what was happening the day his mother and father put him in the family car at their home in Iowa and drove him to foster care.
He was excited, at first. He remembers thinking: "'Oh we're going somewhere fun.'"
Their destination was a psychiatric residential treatment center.
Only on NPR They were promised protection. Instead, these kids with disabilities died in foster care Most children in foster care live with families, with relatives or with other foster parents. But about 10% of disabled kids in foster care live in group homes and institutions, compared to just 4% of those without disabilities.
An NPR investigation found children with disabilities, including physical and behavioral health disabilities, are the largest group that goes into foster care — and they have the worst outcomes.
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