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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A drop in foster numbers is not enough. Children deserve better outcomes.
In Minnesota, more than half of Fosters experience homelessness by age 24. (Photo by Getty Images) Recently released federal data shows that the number of children and youth in foster care nationwide dropped by 6.9% in 2023. Here in Minnesota, that might sound like good news at first glance. Fewer youth in care might suggest progress — a sign that our systems are getting better at supporting families and preventing unnecessary removals. But for those of us who have lived through foster care, and who organize every day with young people navigating it now, the story is more complex. At Foster Advocates, we are proud to be the only organization in Minnesota led by and for people with foster care experience — whom we call Fosters. We believe in a future where all young people, no matter how they enter the system, are met with safety, belonging and opportunity. Unfortunately, that future is still out of reach for most. Despite this recent drop in the number of youth in care, the outcomes for those who remain paint a grim picture. In Minnesota, more than half of Fosters experience homelessness by age 24, according to Wilder Research. And according to the National Foster Youth Institute, over 90% of Fosters do not have even $500 in savings. Just 37% graduate high school on time in Minnesota. That's why we launched what we call the Minnesota Promise: a statewide campaign to ask Fosters directly what real justice and support would look like. Over the past two years, we've hosted listening sessions with over 120 Fosters representing more than 50 counties. What they told us was clear: They want to be seen, heard and empowered; not simply managed by systems that too often ignore their needs and voices. Through our community organizing work, Fosters shared that, for many, it was the first time they had been in a room with others who shared their experience — without feeling ashamed or needing to hide it. They were able to have honest, difficult conversations with people who understood them immediately and without judgment. The Minnesota Promise is not a checklist of reforms. It is a vision for transformation, one rooted in healing, culture and the leadership of those most impacted. It demands that we stop measuring progress by the number of kids in care and start measuring it by the outcomes we create for them. Are they housed? Are they connected to community? Are they thriving? A numerical decline in foster care placements is not a promise kept. It could reflect positive shifts in prevention and family support, or it could mask deeper issues, such as youth aging out without support, or families discouraged from engaging with systems that historically have not served them well. If we want to turn this moment into real momentum, we must do more than celebrate numbers. We must invest in Foster-informed services and wellness, peer-led leadership, and system redesign led by Fosters themselves. Minnesota has the opportunity to lead the nation, not just in reducing the number of children in care, but in building a world where they no longer fall through the cracks once they leave. A smaller system does not mean a better one — unless we change the experience of those still inside it. The question now is not just how many children are in foster care. It's whether, collectively as Minnesotans, we're finally ready to keep our promise to them.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New study: 20% of MN households are food insecure
The Brief Study shows 1 in 5 Minnesota households are food insecure. Second Harvest Heartland conducts its first-ever statewide hunger study. BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) - New data shows a sobering reality for hunger in the state of Minnesota. One in five households are experiencing food insecurity. Second Harvest Heartland said this is the first time it has ever conducted its own statewide hunger study. By the numbers Second Harvest Heartland said organizations rely on federal statistics on hunger relief every 18 months or so to inform strategy, which can often be a delayed reference point. Second Harvest Heartland partnered with Wilder Research to conduct its first ever statewide hunger study. The organization said it wanted to better understand the current state of food insecurity in Minnesota to try to keep up with the growing need. "One of our greatest insights is that one out of five Minnesotans cannot afford the food they need to thrive," said Sarah Moberg, Chief Operations Officer of Second Harvest Heartland. According to the study, 20% of Minnesota households are food insecure, 18% of the state is supported by the emergency food system, and 30% of households in Minnesota are not confident about having enough food in the next year. Second Harvest Heartland said food shelf visits over the last year will set yet another record. Understanding the issues: Second Harvest Heartland said their mission is not just about providing food, they want to grow awareness about the root causes of hunger and affordability. "It could be, do you have transportation to get to a job. It could be the job and the hours and the childcare, all of those pieces have to work together in order for a family to be able to afford the food they need," said Moberg. "Often times, we know if a family has to make a tough choice about what to afford, food is the first thing they pull back on." The organization also points to rising costs as a challenge many of these households face. "Times are tough right now, so the cost of items like childcare, healthcare, housing, energy, all of those have been increasing. They're increasing at a rate that many families are having a hard time keeping up with," said Moberg. "We know it's a really difficult choice right now that many families are having to make." What you can do Learn more here about the organization's goal to cut the number of food insecure households in the state in half by 2030 by clicking here. The Source Second Harvest Heartland, Wilder Research.
