In 2014 a child entered foster care every two minutes (Statistics, 2014). Out of the four-hundred thousand children in foster care, twenty percent of those are teenagers between the ages of sixteen and twenty (Helping Youth, 2013). Out of that twenty percent, one in five teenagers will essentially emancipate or sign them out of care if they are not adopted before the age of eighteen leaving many jobless, homeless, throwing away education, and with very little independent living skills (Helping Youth, 2013). As well, once a teen is no longer in foster care any services they may have been receiving are completely stopped; in addition, they are also left without health insurance. This is particularly alarming since statistically speaking, foster care youth are more likely than typical youth to have mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and are also more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol or get pregnant at a young age (Helping Youth, 2013). The transition process can often prove to be a daunting and overwhelming task and unfortunately there are not many sources readily available for these teens to shift smoothly and successfully with the life skills needed to live independently. While transitioning into adulthood can be intimidating to any teenager, it is an even more difficult task for a child that has been in foster care as they do not have the safety nets that are often presented to other typical young adults. It is not uncommon for teenagers in non-foster homes to stay with their families into their early twenties taking advantage of readily available emotional and financial support. Whereas a foster youth has to deal with housing, food, medical care, and case worker support being taken away once they reach the age of eighteen (Helping Youth, 2013). As well, even if typical teens do not stay at home, it is highly likely that they will attend and live at a college or higher learning institution. Both giving them a place to live and sense of safety, it is also means they not only completed high school, but were presented the opportunity to further that education. Juxtaposed, lack of education is a major concern for aging foster care youth. Teenagers in foster care are three times as likely to not complete their high school diploma and are one-fifth as likely to later attend college (Helping Youth, 2013). Without completing their educational goals, foster care youth will face great difficulty finding jobs or settling into a career. In 2012, only forty-eight percent of previously foster care youth were employed (Statistics, 2014). Without employment, it is hard for these people to feel like functional and contributing members of society. Teens in foster care do not have this opportunity if they are not adopted. Foster care youth not only have to deal with problems and drama typical of being a teenager, but also
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Sadly, that is the reality for many foster care youth, and often with an additional layer of hopelessness and neglect when aging out of services. Many teens in foster care find adverse ways of coping with their situations; such as recreational drugs or underage drinking. Teens in foster care are more likely that any other group of youths to experiment with drinking and drugs and foster care youth is seven times more likely to abuse alcohol, five times more likely to develop post traumatic stress disorder and twenty-five percent will experience homelessness (Statistics, 2014). Without proper mental health care and guidance, these issues will continue to stack upon each other and exponentially grow. In one study completed, youth in foster care were three times more likely to consider committing suicide and four times more likely to actually attempt an act of suicide than youth that has never been in foster care (Increased Risk, n.d.). All of these reasons and so many more are why a program such as Teens on Top could be so successful. Although imaginary, it takes everything a foster care youth aging out of foster care needs to be successful and presents it to them in one, neat package. It pairs behavior specialists, life coaches, local counseling agencies to provide psychological and coping services, financial counselors, employment guidance, and an online forum for peer support in hopes of helping these teenagers become successful, thriving
Sadly, that is the reality for many foster care youth, and often with an additional layer of hopelessness and neglect when aging out of services. Many teens in foster care find adverse ways of coping with their situations; such as recreational drugs or underage drinking. Teens in foster care are more likely that any other group of youths to experiment with drinking and drugs and foster care youth is seven times more likely to abuse alcohol, five times more likely to develop post traumatic stress disorder and twenty-five percent will experience homelessness (Statistics, 2014). Without proper mental health care and guidance, these issues will continue to stack upon each other and exponentially grow. In one study completed, youth in foster care were three times more likely to consider committing suicide and four times more likely to actually attempt an act of suicide than youth that has never been in foster care (Increased Risk, n.d.). All of these reasons and so many more are why a program such as Teens on Top could be so successful. Although imaginary, it takes everything a foster care youth aging out of foster care needs to be successful and presents it to them in one, neat package. It pairs behavior specialists, life coaches, local counseling agencies to provide psychological and coping services, financial counselors, employment guidance, and an online forum for peer support in hopes of helping these teenagers become successful, thriving