Why Aging Out of Foster Care Matters And Why The HUB Exist

Each year in Nebraska, young people leave foster care not because they are ready for adulthood, but because they have reached the age limit of a system designed for children, 19 years of age in Nebraska. A special report from the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board shines a light on what happens to youth who age out of care and why community-based support like The HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults is so critical.

In fiscal year 2025, 179 young people aged out of Nebraska’s foster care system without achieving permanency, meaning they did not reunify with family, were not adopted, and did not enter guardianship. For these young adults, turning 19 did not come with a safety net.

More Moves. Fewer Connections.

The report found that youth who age out of foster care experience significantly more instability than other children in out-of-home care. On average, they moved four times more often than youth who were able to reunify with their families. Each move can disrupt school, mental health services, and trusted relationships making it harder to build the foundation needed for adulthood.

Youth who aged out were also less likely to have lasting family or kin connections. While many young adults rely on family for housing, emotional support, and guidance well into their twenties, these young people are often navigating adulthood alone.

Higher Needs, Fewer Supports

The report also highlights that youth aging out of care are more likely to have identified mental health needs, underscoring the importance of continued access to supportive services after leaving foster care. Without intentional, ongoing support, many young adults face heightened risks of housing instability, unemployment, and isolation.

Where The HUB Steps In

This is where The HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults makes a difference.

The HUB exists to provide unconditional support and access to services for young people as they become independent, active members of our community, especially those who have aged out of systems meant to protect them.

For young adults leaving foster care, The HUB offers:

• A trusted place to turn when there is no family safety net

• Help navigating housing, employment, education, and basic needs

• Connection to caring adults and a community that believes in their potential

The Foster Care Review Board’s findings reinforce what we see every day at The HUB aging out of care is not the end of a journey, it is the beginning of a critical transition that requires continued support.

How You Make an Impact

Because of supporters like you, The HUB is able to stand alongside young people during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Your generosity helps ensure that aging out of foster care does not mean aging out of support.

Together, we can help young adults move forward with stability, dignity, and hope; not alone but connected to a community that cares.

Visit here, to read the full report by the Nebraska Foster Care Review Office.