Connecting Hispanic children in foster care with their culture

There are more Hispanic children in foster care in Arizona than any other ethnicity. In this episode of “Horizonte,” we talk with Luis De La Cruz, President and CEO of the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, about why Latino children are overrepresented in Arizona’s foster care system, how poverty and neglect contribute to the issue and how his organization supports youth and those aging out of care.

The Arizona Department of Child Safety reports there are more Hispanic youth, ages 0 to 17, experiencing the foster care system than any other ethnicity. And according to the most recent Monthly Operational and Outcomes Report from DCS, of the 7,129 kids currently in foster care, 2,303 of them are Hispanic children.

De La Cruz said, “97% are coming in for the reason of neglect, not abuse, not abandonment, but neglect; and understanding that the level of financial and economic distress that our communities might be facing, might be impacting the numbers that end up being in the system.”

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation also helps children in foster care meet some of their needs, providing support every day people might not think about. Many students in the foster care system cannot access sports. They sometimes cannot access field trips. De La Cruz and his organization addresses those issues so that children have the same access to these experiences that are important to their development.

“Every child should experience a moment of joy, particularly if you’re experiencing extraordinarily difficult circumstances,” De La Cruz said.

He said 900 kids right now need a home, adding “so if you’ve got the the space in your home and in your heart to open up that home to one of those children, you should. It takes anywhere from three to six months to be licensed to become a licensed foster parent,” De La Cruz said.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or adoption, please visit the Arizona Department of Child Safety website.