I am often amazed at who has adoption and/or foster care in their background. Simone Biles spent 3 years in foster care at a young age. Fortunately, her grandfather and his wife made the decision to adopt her when she was six. Biles’ birth mother suffered from drug addiction,. When she was only three years old, her siblings were removed from the mom’s custody along with Simone.
Today, she speaks out as an advocate for other foster youth.
Did you know that in the United States there are nearly 400,000 children and youth in foster care?
Simone Biles views them as 400,000 unrecognized talents waiting to be discovered.
She also notes that only 3% of foster youth ever go on to earn a bachelor’s degree. This is compared to a rate of 30% in the general population. There are academic and emotional challenges that accompany multiple family and school placements over the course of a foster youth childhood.
Missing Mom 