Children Voices Serves
Voices serves children and youth of all ages, from infants born drug-exposed to youth on the edge of independence (up to their 21st birthday). One quarter of the children Voices represents are five years old or younger. Over 50% are teens or older youth. Regardless of age, all children and youth who have been victims of abuse and neglect and find themselves in foster care face many threats to their health and well-being.
Of the children Voices served last year, at least 68% had been physically abused, 13% had suffered sexual abuse, 22% were drug-exposed infants, 20% had suffered from serious medical neglect and 35% experienced physical neglect. Most are victims of multiple types of abuse, neglect and abandonment.
In addition to the trauma they have suffered, our kids often suffer from health, mental health and behavior problems, developmental delays and academic failure. Voices’ children are diagnosed with serious psychological or educational challenges at a rate two to seven times higher than the general child population.
Because of their backgrounds, the children we serve are already at higher risk for many problems during their childhood and as adults. If there is a failure to address any of their basic or special needs as children and teens, they will be at an even higher risk of a future encumbered by challenges which include low graduation rates, teen pregnancy, incarceration, homelessness and unemployment.
Their circumstances do not need to define their future. But like all children, they need caring, invested adults in their lives. And they need expert, consistent advocacy in court and in every sphere of their lives. That's what Voices provides.
Like all children, our kids have dreams and the potential to achieve all that they hope for. Our job is to encourage those dreams, ensure they heal from the trauma they have suffered and have the resources they need to reach their potential.
