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Nebraska Bill Assists Aging Out Youth
By Joanne Young, Lincoln Journal Star—The legislature in Nebraska passed a bill (LB177) introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell that requires a transition plan for youth in foster care to be completed at 16. The bill also includes plans to provide further education, employment services, health care coverage, housing and banking services. 
Photo: Susana Mariscal
A Summit for Youth Permanency outlined plans and statistics about youth aging out of foster care. The summit consisted of 250 professionals and other stakeholders. Haley Graupner shared her story of troubles upon aging out of the system. She ended up with no guardianship and had a roommate move out suddenly of an apartment they shared. Before she knew it, she had no place to stay. After 27 placements in foster care from age 9, she was fearful she wouldn’t land a home.
Youth aging out of the system without a permanent home are on the rise. In 2010, 224 youth aged out in Nebraska while 123 had guardians at 18 and 20 were adopted. Almost half the youth in foster care in Nebraska are 14 to 19 years old, and finding adoptions for older youth can prove difficult. Focusing on a smoother transition from foster care to adulthood can help provide the support needed for older youth in care to be successful.
Courtesy of Lincoln Journal Star
Original article: Summit tackles how to help increasing numbers of kids aging out of foster care