Transition of Youth Aging out the Foster Care System
Every year, there are more than 30,000 kids who age out of the foster care system (Richards, 2014). In most states, the cut off age is 18; however, some states have increased the age to 21. When these kids finally reach the age of 18, they are left to the world with no support. Homelessness, hunger, lack of healthcare and education is what nearly 30% of the 30,000 kids are left with. More federal and state governments need to instate policies for the well-being and safety of the kids that are left to face our society without any support.
Many of the youth transitioning out of the system are exposed to illegal activity, high possibilities of incarceration, failure to finish school, pregnancy, …show more content…
Most are still living with their parents and are dependent on them to pay their college tuition, phone bill, and other necessities. Even though 18 is the “legal” age, it is safe to say that most kids are still dependent on their parents in some kind of way. However, kids transitioning out of the foster care system literally have no homes, no one to pay their future and upcoming bills, and no real support from their families. They are dependent on the government and whatever it is willing to pay and themselves. They are forced to be law-abiding citizens the day they turn 18. Most people can attest that age 18 was a year of many mistakes and lessons learned, because one is still mentally and developmentally a kid. As a result of having to grow up so fast, many youth transitioning out of the foster care system experience mental depression, homelessness, financial struggle, and high bouts of illegal …show more content…
Since the transitioning number is so large every year, the government should see to it that they develop and implement policies that would benefit both the youth and society. According to Courtney et al. (2010), a study was completed that compared outcomes of 23 to 24 year old former foster care youth to a general population of 23 and 24 year olds. Some of the significant findings were females who had been pregnant, males who had been incarnated, persons with no high school diploma or GED, and those that were unemployed. For “females that had been pregnant, the general population percentage was 40.4% as opposed to 77% of former foster care youth. For “men who have ever been arrested,” the general population percentage was 17.4% as opposed to 81.2% of former foster care youth. Lastly, for youth that have “no high school diploma or GED” the general population percentage was 7.3% compared to 24.4% of former foster care youth.
Overall, these factors show that a child is more likely to have a different outcome based on the levels of support they receive as a child and young
Every year, there are more than 30,000 kids who age out of the foster care system (Richards, 2014). In most states, the cut off age is 18; however, some states have increased the age to 21. When these kids finally reach the age of 18, they are left to the world with no support. Homelessness, hunger, lack of healthcare and education is what nearly 30% of the 30,000 kids are left with. More federal and state governments need to instate policies for the well-being and safety of the kids that are left to face our society without any support.
Many of the youth transitioning out of the system are exposed to illegal activity, high possibilities of incarceration, failure to finish school, pregnancy, …show more content…
Most are still living with their parents and are dependent on them to pay their college tuition, phone bill, and other necessities. Even though 18 is the “legal” age, it is safe to say that most kids are still dependent on their parents in some kind of way. However, kids transitioning out of the foster care system literally have no homes, no one to pay their future and upcoming bills, and no real support from their families. They are dependent on the government and whatever it is willing to pay and themselves. They are forced to be law-abiding citizens the day they turn 18. Most people can attest that age 18 was a year of many mistakes and lessons learned, because one is still mentally and developmentally a kid. As a result of having to grow up so fast, many youth transitioning out of the foster care system experience mental depression, homelessness, financial struggle, and high bouts of illegal …show more content…
Since the transitioning number is so large every year, the government should see to it that they develop and implement policies that would benefit both the youth and society. According to Courtney et al. (2010), a study was completed that compared outcomes of 23 to 24 year old former foster care youth to a general population of 23 and 24 year olds. Some of the significant findings were females who had been pregnant, males who had been incarnated, persons with no high school diploma or GED, and those that were unemployed. For “females that had been pregnant, the general population percentage was 40.4% as opposed to 77% of former foster care youth. For “men who have ever been arrested,” the general population percentage was 17.4% as opposed to 81.2% of former foster care youth. Lastly, for youth that have “no high school diploma or GED” the general population percentage was 7.3% compared to 24.4% of former foster care youth.
Overall, these factors show that a child is more likely to have a different outcome based on the levels of support they receive as a child and young