Our Mission
Children’s Hope Family Foundation invests in foster children and families.
Our Vision
A future where every child knows they belong.
We raise vital funds for foster children and underserved families across Northern California.
Through dedicated fundraisers, special events, and impactful philanthropic initiatives, we are committed to providing support and creating a brighter future for those in our community.
Foster Children in California
In California, there are over 60,000 children in foster care*. Around 8,000 children are adopted annually, and foster youth are classified through various permanency routes including reunification, adoption, guardianship, and aging out of the system.
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*Reference: Children's Law Center of California (click here)
Age Demographics:
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Infants/Toddlers (under 5 years old): 37% of the children in foster care are under the age of five. Infants under one year old enter care at a disproportionately higher rate.
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School-Age (6-16 years old): 49%, a substantial portion, are between the ages of 6 and 16.
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Transition-Age Youth (16+): 14%, are 16 or older. California extends foster care eligibility and support services to non-minor dependents (NMDs) up to age 21, and some specific programs may serve up to age 25.
Resource Parents & Unreimbursed Expenses
In California, Resource Parents (foster parents) receive a monthly stipend per child depending on the Level of Care (LOC) to cover basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.
However, several significant out-of-pocket expenses often exceed this amount.
Common Unreimbursed Expenses:
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Initial Placement Needs: children often arrive with very few belongings, sometimes just the clothes they are wearing. Initial clothing allowances rarely cover a full wardrobe, car seats, or specialized bedding like bassinets
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Extracurricular and Social Activities: high-cost activities such as competitive sports, dance, music lessons, and summer camps are often not fully covered
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Childcare Overages: while subsidies like the California Foster Care Child Care Program exist, foster parents often pay the difference if a provider's rates exceed the state's maximum reimbursement rate.
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Braces: if a child does not qualify for orthodontic coverage through Medi-Cal, the cost falls to the resource parent or biological family. Costs could range from $3,000 - $8,500