There is an interesting program on the scene regarding youth, who are now 18 years and permitted to leave foster care. These youth now are being chosen to participate in programs to help them get a hand-up into adult society.
For a long time, many professionals in the field, as well as foster care teens themselves, have realized the hard fought struggle there is when no one is there on the other side of state supported children and youth. One might ask, "Where will these kids live?" or "How do they develop their own community of support?" It's a serious problem if you happen to be a teenager out on your own after the state has cut you free.
One cannot easily walk over to a cozy neighborhood, plunk down money for rent with only a reference from a social worker saying, "We are no longer responsible." Sure, some foster kids have a relative to turn to. Some have been able to work and save a little money. But, a sizable share of foster care youth have few things going for them: no place to stay, no continual supply of food, no friends to hangout with, no transportation nor money for the bus, no clothing to put into drawers and on hangers, no soccer ball to kick around the alley or park, no TV, no phone. They have, literally, only the clothes on their backs, a few dollars given by the state and the smile as their social worker shakes hands, then, turns to walk to her nearly new car to complete paperwork.
There is a seemingly sudden interest in foster care youth. This is a good thing; a good start. There is a national govenors' task force trying to find workable solutions. I'm not buying the program they advocate in its entirty. Portions, though, are worth approach, such as higher education. There really is no 12 step solution. There is no step-by-step approach out there to address the many nuances of moving into adult society, such as: location of the teen, stereotyping of foster children, attitudes and perceptions by the youth being tossed around the system followed by being tossed onto the street.
Survival and overwhelming fear for the average foster care kid is what he or she definitely carries daily. Below is a report written in order to share with us, what California is doing in order to assist the adult, who has just left foster care. I do like the effort and the money being set aside for these kinds of programs. I do not yet see effect. We could do a lot better for children whose only hope is listed on a piece of paper. But, we must consider, that a good share of the population of youth leaving foster care will see a new program, as more hoops to jump through. More uncertainty. Less real truth. That's inescapable under any method of assisting children given survival by the state.
Ann Klein
Reference to, National Govenors Association