YOU

Are Critical to the success of Cinematique

Cinematique is dedicated to supporting foster and underserved youth and their families.

In Washington State, kids of color — particularly Black and Native American children — are disproportionately overrepresented in the foster care system due to systemic racism in home removal, structural inequities in family support and implicit bias from reporters, police, social workers, and court officials.

LGBTQIA+ youth face many of the same problems, often entering care due to family rejection. They face the added challenge of finding affirming foster placements, making their experience even more vulnerable.

While Washington State is making progress in preventing family separation,

There is still an urgent need for more foster families.

WHY Give?

Children of color, particularly Black and Native American youth, are disproportionately represented in the foster care system.
The average age of a child in foster care is 8 years old, with an average duration of nearly 20 months in the system (UW).
In 2020, children in foster care spent an average of 26.6 months in care (CWLA)

In the 2023 cohort, only 53% of youth who had been in foster care graduated on time, compared to 84% of their peers (DCYF).
Youth in foster care are more likely to experience physical, psychological, and cognitive challenges.
Students in foster care often exhibit lower attendance rates and academic proficiency compared to their peers. They also face higher rates of school mobility and disciplinary incidents, all of which contribute to diminished educational outcomes (OSPI).

“One cause lies in the implicit bases that many within the system have ... [from the] people who report concerns, to police officers, social workers, and court officials.

Studies have revealed that subconscious prejudice plays an outsized role in their decision making process”

— Washington Association for Children and Families

Between 2008 and 2015, Washington State lost nearly 20% of its foster homes, leading to situations where children had to stay in offices or hotels due to a lack of placements (InvestigateWest).
In 2020, 184 children aged out of the foster care system without permanent family connections.
The state faces a significant shortage of licensed foster homes and group homes, leading to the increased practice of housing children and youth in hotels, motels, government offices, and leased facilities. This situation underscores the urgent need for more foster families, especially those of color, to provide culturally appropriate care (Treehouse).