By Michael Piraino, Huffington Post—Each spring graduates walk across the stage, receive their diploma, and head on to bigger and better things. Many will go to college; some will go to work. Very few will do anything without the support, both financial and emotional, of family members. But for the youth in foster care approaching 18, they have a very different kind of graduation. These youth age out of foster care, and they face many obstacles without the typical support system of family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Susana Mariscal

 

 

The University of Chicago conducted a study that reviewed the outcomes of children who have aged out of care. It followed more than 700 youth for several years. Results showed that those aging out of foster care were three times less likely to get their high school diploma and graduated college at one-fifth the rate of their non-foster counterparts. Further, one-quarter experience homelessness and less than have were employed at the time of the survey.

Some states are making efforts to assist those aging out of care. Nebraska makes sure that all youth in foster care have a formal, written transition plans that address housing, education, and employment. In Illinois, youth are able to re-enter foster care to receive additional support if they decide they need it.

We the public are responsible for the success of these children, as collectively we have been deemed their parents. We need to ensure that our resources are appropriately being allocated to youth transitioning from care to help them achieve their goals.

Courtesy of Huffington Post      

Original Article: Helping Our Foster Youth Graduate Into Adulthood

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-piraino/helping-foster-youth-adulthood_b_888904.html