Coronavirus Puts New Pressures on Foster Kids

Current concerns include food insecurity, loss of income leading to housing issues, education disruption and fear of isolation and emotional anxiety

Marie Branes entered foster care at the age of 5. She’s now 24.

“I don’t really remember a lot, I believe that after talking with a therapist, that a lot of my memories have been suppressed,” she said. Branes was put in the foster care system because of the physical and mental abuse she endured from both her parents.

Branes has an older sister that would take her in from time to time, who Branes said was her role-model. To this day, Branes occasionally speaks with her father, but not her mother.

In San Diego County, there are over 3,000 foster kids. That’s according to Don Wells, with Just in Time for Foster Youth. He said about 2,000 are in out-of-home placements, about 800 receive in-home services and the others are in extended foster care for ages 18-21. 

Now, with the coronavirus pandemic, these kids face a unique set of challenges without the support of parents guiding them…

Continue reading: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/coronavirus-puts-new-pressures-on-foster-kids/2381989/

Spanish version: https://www.telemundo20.com/noticias/local/programa-just-in-time-ayuda-a-menores-adoptivos/2045306/ 

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