By Mary Kuhlman, Public News Service—Additional funding has been proposed in Ohio’s state budget to assist foster youth transition from foster care to independence. An extra $2 million has been proposed to be allocated toward those efforts in the Senate budget to provide job training, safe housing, and basic life skills education.

 Photo: Susana Mariscal

Adrian McLemore, a former foster youth, said that aging out was difficult when he turned 18 in 2004.

"The system kind of says, 'All right, here's your bags, good luck in life,' without any really clear direction as to where they go from there, whether we're preparing them to go to college or go to a vocational or technical school, or just asking them to function as a productive citizen."

Michael Colbert, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, says that while the youth he has met in foster care are resilient, providing services for them in their transition to adulthood needs to be a priority.

"These are very good young people. They've had some tough times and, by giving them a small bridge to help them better themselves in life, we are making Ohio as a whole better, and this goes a long way for such a little investment."

Colbert stresses that the investment now is worth it in the long run. This investment not only helps improve the lives of the youth, but it also helps society at large.

"What you don't want is young people to leave our system and come back, right back in another system. You want them to leave our system and go on to become productive citizens in life."

Courtesy of Public News Service

Original Article OH Budget Proposal Bridges Gap from Foster Care to Adulthood

Link: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/20520-1