Neighbors Coffee + Hospitality

“Neighbors Coffee + Hospitality in Kansas City, is answering that question of [what to do with foster children aging out of foster care] by connecting the community and giving former foster kids a fresh start.”

Foster children who age out of foster care are the most vulnerable members of society.

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“The foster care-to-prison pipeline refers to the funneling of children in foster care into juvenile detention or adult incarceration. By age 17, over 50% of foster children will have an encounter with the juvenile legal system through arrest, conviction or detention. In addition, 25% of youth in foster care will be involved with the criminal legal system within two years of leaving foster care. If a child has moved to five or more placements, they are at a 90% risk of being involved with the criminal legal system. “

“In 2020, the Children’s Bureau at the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, reported that there were approximately 407,000 children in foster care. ”

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“”The statistic — if someone who has aged out doesn’t have a college in mind, or work, they will revert back to what their biological parents were doing, even if they have a good foster family,” said Justin Conover. “I believe it’s over 50%.

“That’s what the word ‘restaurant’ is built on. The word ‘rest.'”

When the shop is closed, Hernandez and several other former foster care kids attend different classes organized by their bosses.

The goal is for the former foster care kids to gain the skills needed to be successful in all aspects of life.

“My ultimate dream would be to get into culinary arts in college and work in a restaurant, maybe own a restaurant,” Hernandez said.”

Local business providing jobs, support for foster care kids who have aged out of the system
{KMBC 11/11/25 by Lara Mortiz]

The foster care-to-prison pipeline: A road to incarceration
[Criminal Law Practitioner 10/18/23 by Jaxzia Perez]

REFORM Puzzle Piece