PHOENIX (AZFamily) —Children in foster care face struggles that most kids never imagine. Data shows that, in the U.S., youth in foster care are two and a half times more likely to think about suicide and four times more likely to try.

Behind those numbers are real children, like 12-year-old Kayci Griffen, who was missing for more than a week while her family worried she may have become one of these statistics.

Kayci was last seen on Sept. 1 near 16th Street and Roeser Road in Phoenix. Her family said she ran away from foster care after telling them she wanted to hurt herself.

“Kayci was one who has been through a lot of trauma and a lot of challenges that have come over the last year quickly. And so, you know, not so good thoughts came across her mind,” said her aunt, Dana Burns.

Ex

See Full Page