Written by: Erica Pahud
(Margrove,
2012)
Most nonprofit foster
organizations have an age cut-off of age 18.
The nonprofit
organization that I currently work for, Indiana Youth Group, will allow some
leniency for 19-year-old "adults," but for the most part, when the
youth becomes an adult they are referred to other organizations that offer
adult programs. These programs, though valuable, are detached from the
continuous care on which foster youth rely.
It is my view that the
cut-off for services should apply more to preparedness than age. There
are a multitude of reasons why it may be too soon to force an abrupt transition
upon reaching adulthood upon age 18 (Stangler, 2014). Some reasons are:
- The obvious fact that facing adulthood is more challenging and even frightening to foster youth
- Every youth aging out too soon has an impact on social costs, for examples, compensating for youth earning low wages or receiving government assistance
- Resources and funds are available to foster care organizations, as there are less resources and funds available for adult organizations/programs
- Having policy that allows a transitional period with the option to return to foster care if independent living isn't successful is feasible
- Having policy that ensures necessary skills needed in order for youth to succeed have been acquired is feasible
Constant changes in
society, for example, the higher demand from employers for applicants to have a
Master's degree, reinforce these facts. 30 is the new 20, is it not?
Cutting-off a served youth too early could undo positive progress,
causing them to significantly backslide.
I would like to share
a personal example. My place of employment, Indiana Youth Group, recently
received a call from a child that was kicked-out of his home at age 17 with no
place to stay. Because Indiana Youth Group is a safe home for kids
experiencing family problems, we were able to provide him with information and
support, while connecting him to foster care. This particular child
showed obvious signs of needing of help. If he didn't need help, he
wouldn't have gone online or to the phone book to find our organization.
Luckily, foster care will provide him all of the necessary things
required for immediate survival as well as future success, but what if he were
only allowed to stay for several months. He would enter the foster care
system, begin receiving services and recovering from family-related set-backs,
and then suddenly be thrust into the "real world" with no option to
stay in foster care longer if he so desires.
So what needs to be
done?
The answer is in
prevention. The way to prevent these problems is to invest more into
youth's futures. Investment should focus on quality over quantity with
the mind-set that "age is just a number." According to the Jim
Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative and their "Success Beyond 18"
campaign, some success in youth staying in foster care beyond age 18 has
already been measured, but more work needs to be done (Success Beyond 18).
Extending the age cut-off and allowing transitioning young adults to
continue to receive program services until they are fully prepared is the most
appropriate means for increasing foster youth success because it is the most
achievable and feasible means.
________________________________
Story Source:
Article References:
1. Stangler, G. [Web
log post]. (2013, July 28). Aging
Out of Foster Care: The Costs of Doing Nothing Affect Us All. Huff Post
Impact. Retrieved May 5, 2014
from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-stangler/aging-out-of-foster-care-_b_3658694.html
2. Success Beyond 18.
Retrieved May 5, 2014 from http://jimcaseyyouth.org/success-beyond-18
Photo Credit:
Margrove, R [Web log
post]. (2012, May 17). Exam season has begun: feeling stressed? The Guardian.
Retrieved May 6, 2014
from
http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2012/may/17/exam-survival-tips
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