Resources for Current &

Former Foster Youth

This list is a work in progress. If you have programs to suggest to add to this page, please contact us. 

Click a Link to Jump to a Section:

1. Crisis Hotlines

2. Legal Resources

3. Homeless Foster Youth Resources

4. Health Care Resources

5. Parents or Expecting Foster Youth

6. Free Psychotherapy & Healing Help

7. Free Educational Resources Online

8. Other Resources

Crisis Hotlines

• Need help? You can text SHELTER and your ZIP code (for example, SHELTER 90210) to the phone number 99000 
  from anywhere in the nation and receive a response with a local safe shelter to go to. 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or online chat

• National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE (4673)

• National Domestic Violence/Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474 or text “loveis” to 77054

• National Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-422-4453

• Center for the Prevention of School Violence: 1-800-299-6504

• Pregnancy National Helpline: 1-800-356-5761

• National Association for Children of Alcoholics: 1-888-55-4COAS (1-888-554-2627)

• Alcohol/Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• Be Sober Hotline: 1-800-BE-SOBER (1-800-237-6237)

• Self-Injury Support: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288) 

• Eating Disorders Center: 1-888-236-1188

• Panic Disorder Information and Support: 1-800-64-PANIC (1-800-647-2642)

• TalkZone (Peer Counselors): 1-800-475-TALK (1-800-475-2855)

• Dial 2-1-1: Nationwide, free & confidential referral and information helpline and website that connects people from all communities and of all ages to the essential health and human services they need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Safe Haven Baby Crisis Hotline: 1-888-510-BABY. For parents unable to care for their newborn infants. 

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Legal Resources

• Advokids: Free legal helpline for asking the judge to make new decisions about your life, new decisions about your relationship with your brothers or sisters in foster care or reporting a problem with your attorney or social worker. Helpline: 877.238.4543. Open Monday – Friday, 9am – 4:30pm

 

Resources for Homeless Foster Youth & Youth in Crisis

• Find a Shelter ASAP: Youth can text SHELTER, ABUSED or SOBER and your ZIP code (SHELTER 90210) to the free phone number 99000 from anywhere in the nation and receive a response with a local shelter or help.

• Covenant House: A nationwide network dedicated to saving homeless kids. 

• Homeless Shelter Directory: Interactive U.S. map to find homeless shelters and service organizations

• Tuck.com Homeless Shelter Directory: List of different shelters and who they server by U.S. state.

• Safe Place: A national youth outreach and prevention program for young people in need of immediate help and safety. Locations include: libraries, YMCA’s fire stations, public buses, various businesses, and social service facilities.  

• Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries and Food Banks: Interactive U.S. map to find emergency food resources.

• Rent Assistance: Find government and non-profit programs that will help you pay rent.

• List of Services helping California's homeless youth

• Pathways Housing (Los Angeles): 18-36 month housing program by United Friends of the Children.

• Child Poverty Resource Directory: Across the country there are shelters, organizations, and ministries dedicated to helping poverty-stricken children. Mattress Advisor complied a list of these centers and facilities by state, various ways to contact them, and a list of the services they provide.

 

Health Care 

The Affordable Care Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2014, requires states to provide free health care insurance to former foster youth until age 26. 

• Former foster youth living in California (regardless of what state they lived in while in foster care), click here to register.

• Free Dental Care: Comprehensive list of free and sliding scale dental resources in the USA.

• Free Medical Clinics: List of free and sliding-scale medical clinics by state.

• About Postpartum Depression: Resource information provided by Maryville University. 

 

Resources for Parents or Expecting Foster Youth

• TeenParent.net: For foster youth who are expecting or parenting, find out how you can get the things you need and the people who can help you get them. 

• National Diaper Bank Network: Directory of diaper banks by state that distribute diapers to families.

• Funded Child Care & Development Options (California): List of different State and Federally funded programs that help families pay for child care.

• National Safe Haven Baby Directory by State: When a parent cannot care of an infant, it is legal for the parent to leave an unharmed infant with a designated private person so that the child becomes a ward of the state. This assures that a baby is not left in an unsafe place. The Safe Haven Crisis Hotline is also always available:1-888-510-BABY.

• Financial Assistance for Single Mothers:  Grants and Financial Support for Single Mothers in 50 States

• Postpartum Depression: Signs and Resources for Help

 

Free Psychotherapy & Healing Help for Current & Former Foster Youth

• A Home Within: volunteer network of therapists. Request help by calling 888-898-2249 or click here

• Male Survivor: resources for male survivors of sexual violence.

• iSurvive.org: Resources and forums where adult survivors of child abuse and their loved ones can seek support.

• Treatment for Addiction. Online directory of programs for all types of addiction.

• National Domestic Violence site provides resources about domestic violence or those questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.

 

​Access to Free Educational Resources Online

Companies are desperate to hire employees with degrees/skills in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (called STEM). Take control of your destiny and take advantage of free online courses to increase your employability or get introduced to/try out these fields.

• Bergwall On Demand: Online Video Courses for the Vocational Trades. More

• Codecademy: Companies are DYING for coders. There aren't enough of them. This group provides a free resource to help you get familiarized with many of the most popular coding languages. More

• Kahn Academy: Math, science, computer programming, history, art, economics, and even more free online classes. More

• MIT OpenCourseWare (MIT OCW) is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to put all of the educational materials from its undergraduate- and graduate-level courses online, partly free and openly available to anyone, anywhere. More

• HTML5 Rocks is a Google project, with Google pro contributors bringing you the latest updates, resource guides, and slide decks for all things HTML5.The language tends to be higher level, so it's probably more suited to those with some previous experience. However, ambitious newbies are still welcome. More

• Coursera: The king of online education, offers free classes from dozens of universities across the country, with a healthy smattering of coding classes for those with the desire to learn. More

• Android Training for Developers

• The Ten Best Ways to Get Free College Courses -- websites that offer free online courses or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). (Hey Avery, thanks for recommending this one!)

• COVIDnineTeen -- The Covid NineTEEN project provides FREE teen-led activities and one-on-one tutoring meant to support elementary school students. Our teen mentors help keep children motivated and take stress off of parents.

• Varsity Tudors: Nearly 200 free, live K-12 classes available all day long intended to help parents fill their children’s day with enriched learning. 

• Youth Promise: Online tutoring and educational services for under-served youth
   

 

Other Resources

• Safe Link Wireless: Resources and information on lower-cost phone programs.

• Represent Magazine essay contest for foster youth. Cash prizes.

• Aging Out Institute's list of online communities that support current and former foster youth.

• Foster Care Alumni of America free membership: Get free membership through the alumni waiver program. Get connected to a national community of alumni and ally members. You will receive email newsletters with updates, opportunities to get involved, and information about how to use your voice to make a difference for people in and from foster care.

• Learn the basics of cooking! Yes you can learn how to cook by watching free courses online!

• "Hear Me Roar" by Kari Weber-Young. A book dedicated to helping children in the foster system understand they have rights and a voice in their care. 

• The Black Foster Youth Handbook: 50+ Lessons I learned to successfully AGE-OUT of foster care and Holistically Heal