A real problem in our youth foster systems today is that youth tend to "age out" of the foster system without any program to help them transition from childhood to adulthood and beyond. During the stresses of aging out and trying to figure out where they'll live, if they'll go to school, and what they'll do next, having a sibling support system in place can be extremely helpful to youth.
What Aging Out Means
When children turn 18 and graduate from high school, they are considered to have aged out of the foster system. Aging out means that placements may fade away and assistance may not be available. It is a vulnerable time in the lives of America's youth. Most 18 year olds are trying to decide if they want to go to college, a vocational school, or get a job. While the average youth of this age might have …show more content…
The only real ties they may have is that of their siblings, who might be in various foster placements and not living with the youth coming of age. While there are scholarships and grants available in most states to help foster kids with college costs, it may not cover everything and some youth have no idea how to seek out that type of aid.
Why Siblings Are So Important
For many youth who have bounced around in the system, their siblings may have been the only constant in their lives. This is another reason why maintaining that foster sibling bond is so vitally important. When the youth ages out of the system and is desperately trying to find his place in the world, he can know that he at least belongs with his siblings and that there is someone out there who cares about his well-being.
Another consideration is that as younger siblings age out, older siblings might be in a position to help them with a place to stay while they go to school or a bit of financial help to get them by until they can obtain gainful employment.
Some States Are Changing
What Aging Out Means
When children turn 18 and graduate from high school, they are considered to have aged out of the foster system. Aging out means that placements may fade away and assistance may not be available. It is a vulnerable time in the lives of America's youth. Most 18 year olds are trying to decide if they want to go to college, a vocational school, or get a job. While the average youth of this age might have …show more content…
The only real ties they may have is that of their siblings, who might be in various foster placements and not living with the youth coming of age. While there are scholarships and grants available in most states to help foster kids with college costs, it may not cover everything and some youth have no idea how to seek out that type of aid.
Why Siblings Are So Important
For many youth who have bounced around in the system, their siblings may have been the only constant in their lives. This is another reason why maintaining that foster sibling bond is so vitally important. When the youth ages out of the system and is desperately trying to find his place in the world, he can know that he at least belongs with his siblings and that there is someone out there who cares about his well-being.
Another consideration is that as younger siblings age out, older siblings might be in a position to help them with a place to stay while they go to school or a bit of financial help to get them by until they can obtain gainful employment.
Some States Are Changing