Final Four spotlight puts Foster Care numbers into perspective
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – As thousands of fans fill Lucas Oil Stadium for the NCAA Final Four, advocates say the size of the event offers a powerful way to understand the scale of foster care in the United States.
Each game inside the 70,000-seat stadium will be packed with fans, but nationwide, the number of children in foster care is large enough to fill a venue that size nearly five times over.
“It makes me very, very sad to know there are that many children in our country that are not having a good adult presence in their life,” said Melinda Hill with CASA of South Central Kentucky.
Hill says many people don’t fully realize the scope of the issue, or the role they can play in helping.
“These are children that each of us could help. And it would just take a little bit of time for each of us to do our part in helping these children,” she said.
The Final Four spans just over three days, but advocates say the timeline looks very different for children in foster care. On average, a child spends close to two years in the system, sometimes moving between multiple homes before finding a permanent placement.
“This child could go from foster home to foster home. They’re not guaranteed to be in the same home from the time they enter the foster care system until by time they are finding a forever home,” Hill said.
Each year, thousands of young people also age out of the system without being adopted or reunited with family, a transition advocates say can be especially difficult.
“I do not believe our public understands that in large numbers of children that are in the foster care system in 2025, over 8000 children across the Commonwealth entered our foster care system,” Hill said. “And just imagine if we’re tying it back to NCAA, these players without a coach. So these children are without a coach in life. Every child in this world deserves to be loved and have someone to look after them.”
CASA leaders say raising awareness is a critical first step, and they believe communities will respond when they understand the need.
“I don’t think they are, because I believe if our public is made aware and they understand the true need, they would step up to the plate,” Hill said.
Advocates encourage anyone interested in helping to explore opportunities such as becoming a foster parent or volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate.
They say even a small amount of time can make a lasting difference in a child’s life.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for CASA contact them here.
