For youth who “age out” of care, statistics predict a heartbreaking road ahead. Their likehood of experiencing virtually any ill known to humanity is dramatically higher than for their peers who have families. This includes everything from homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration to physical illness and loneliness.

Along with a host of other challenges, young adults who “emancipate” from the US foster system experience PTSD at nearly twice the rate of US war veterans.   Meanwhile, one study in Moldova – reflecting similar findings all over the world – found that young women who age out of orphanages there are ten times more likely to be victims of human trafficking than their peers.

When Scott Brown first learned about this reality during a trip to Romania, it broke his heart. Scott isn’t one to feel deeply without acting. He also knew many Christian organizations that serve children wanted to do better for aging out youth, but needed help with the how. He believed that if he were able to draw upon the broad network, expertise and collaboration of the entire CAFO community, he could help provide just that.

That vision ultimately became the CAFO Aging Out Initiative.   Scott serves as the volunteer coordinator for the initiative, working with CAFO’s 190+ member organizations to identify and share promising models, tools and other resources for effective aging out supports and programs.

Because of Scott’s faithful leadership, organizations from Southern California to South America to Southeast Asia are sharing the best aging out resources they have to offer. Most importantly, they are doing a better job helping youth who’ve been in foster care or orphanages to grow into healthy adults

The Forgotten Initiative podcast recently featured an interview with Scott, highlighting his story and the work of the Aging Out Initiative. You can listen to the podcast HERE.

The challenges facing aging out youth will always be immense. But just one thoughtful organization or church that desires to engage this need – and even a single caring family or mentor – can make a truly life changing difference in those critical aging out years. Thanks to Scott, that is happening more and more all over the world.