Orphans

There are about 19,000 orphans in Florida, and approximately 440,000 nation wide. Research shows that children who have grown up without parental care are significantly affected.

These young people experience very poor outcomes at a much higher rate than the general population. Orphan statistics show that:

• More than one in five will become homeless after age 18

• Only 58% will graduate high school by age 19 (compared to 87 percent of all 19-year-olds)

• 71% of young women are pregnant by 21, facing higher rates of unemployment, criminal conviction, public assistance, and involvement in the child welfare system

• At the age of 24, only half are employed

• Fewer than 3% will earn a college degree by age 25 (compared to 28% of all 25-year-olds)

Children represent roughly 1/3 of the world’s population and they account for almost half of all people living extreme poverty.