The Pros And Cons Of Aging Out Of Foster Care
For many teenagers, their 18th birthday is an exciting day. They finally become legal adults where they can go out buy their first lotto ticket, get their first tattoo and most importantly become free from the rules and restrictions from their parents. They are many teens that do not look forward becoming legal because, children living in the foster care system their new freedom brings anxiety and fear. “Youth who age out the foster care system often experience a difficult transition to adulthood in several important domains including housing, schooling and employment.” (1) Aging out of foster care is a significant issue among America’s youth. Every year 20,000 youth will age out. Challenges that these young people face, accessing and maintaining
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housing, A job, furthering education, Physical/mental health, staying out of jail, is critical.
Homelessness is a real serious health issues all over the world that must be addressed. Some of the struggles homeless youth face are being victimized on the streets, higher risks of being infected with a STD, becoming pregnant, being exposed to drugs and violence, not having medical access and being incarcerated.” A study in the Northwest found 22.2 % had experienced homelessness for at least 1 day within the first year of leaving care. Rates of homelessness are higher among former foster care youth This incidence of homelessness and housing instability among aged-out foster youth may be associated with a lack of reliable extended familial support, which has become an increasingly valuable resource for many young adults well into their twenties.” (1) Most people depend on their parents financially, emotionally and physically help at least until their 25 years old. For example, the percentage of young people between the ages of 18–24 who lived at home increased from approximately 40 % in 1960 to just over 50 % in 2007. Given this trend of increasing reliance on parental support, it is important to consider the experience of emerging adults who lack such family support. (1) If aging out youth do find a place to stay their experience of housing instability. For example, “the Midwest study found that of over 600 emancipated foster youth aged 18–24, 30 % had lived in five or more places since leaving care.” (1) Additionally, Housing for aged-out children with special needs, mental health, physical/learning disabilities, pregnancy and substance abuse are more limited. The reason is because, lack of resources for the ones that are in more need. The frequent changes can cause behavioral problems which can lead to many other things. With the High levels of housing and financial instability. It is not surprising that rates of homelessness are so high.
Many former foster youth reports having difficulty finding and maintaining employment because, of little to no recourse or experience.
“Reports on employment suggest that on average only one-third to one-half of youth out of substitute care are employed, but they do not identify full time vs. part time employment.” (3) With that being said, Foster youth do not earn enough to rake them out of poverty. “On average, former foster care earned $8000 compared to a national average of $18,300.” (3) Financial independence is often unattainable for forth kids. Some challenge facing employment assistance programs for foster youth is the availability of alternative sources of employment services. A large majority of youth receiving several types of employment assistance. “The source of that assistance – whether it be schools, substitute care providers or other community-based organizations – seems to have realized a fairly high rate of participation, which stands the face of this success.” (2) Youth Children have such a challenging time to maintain a job because of other personal issues. Many company will excuse the foster child of stealing if something comes up missing. “Studies have found lower earnings and higher joblessness rates among aged out youth compared to young people of a similar age range.” That is because jobs think they could trust “regular” young adults. Companies think the foster youth work ethic, experience and criminal background are not matches with other
youth.
The foster care system is a gateway into behavioral heal problems. Many youths transitioning out of care experience a mental health and physical health issues. “Foster youth are significantly more likely than nonfoster youth to have mental health, physical health, and behavioral problems. Studies suggest more than 50 % of foster youth have at least one mental health diagnosis, physical health problem or behavioral problem.” (3) Foster youth also experienced anxiety about depending on other people such as, when they need a place to sleep or when they need to borrow a couple bucks for a burger. Including worrying about be shut down if they do ask. The children in the system receive behavioral treatment for free while in care but when its time to age out they lose that treatment unless they can pay for it. “Studies included in the review find that most of youth in foster care drop out of their behavioral health treatment within a short period after leaving foster care. (4) “The studies of Leslie 31 found that over 50% of youth in the child welfare system used outpatient behavioral health services and that the rates of behavioral health service use increased immediately after contact with the child welfare system” (4)
housing, A job, furthering education, Physical/mental health, staying out of jail, is critical.
Homelessness is a real serious health issues all over the world that must be addressed. Some of the struggles homeless youth face are being victimized on the streets, higher risks of being infected with a STD, becoming pregnant, being exposed to drugs and violence, not having medical access and being incarcerated.” A study in the Northwest found 22.2 % had experienced homelessness for at least 1 day within the first year of leaving care. Rates of homelessness are higher among former foster care youth This incidence of homelessness and housing instability among aged-out foster youth may be associated with a lack of reliable extended familial support, which has become an increasingly valuable resource for many young adults well into their twenties.” (1) Most people depend on their parents financially, emotionally and physically help at least until their 25 years old. For example, the percentage of young people between the ages of 18–24 who lived at home increased from approximately 40 % in 1960 to just over 50 % in 2007. Given this trend of increasing reliance on parental support, it is important to consider the experience of emerging adults who lack such family support. (1) If aging out youth do find a place to stay their experience of housing instability. For example, “the Midwest study found that of over 600 emancipated foster youth aged 18–24, 30 % had lived in five or more places since leaving care.” (1) Additionally, Housing for aged-out children with special needs, mental health, physical/learning disabilities, pregnancy and substance abuse are more limited. The reason is because, lack of resources for the ones that are in more need. The frequent changes can cause behavioral problems which can lead to many other things. With the High levels of housing and financial instability. It is not surprising that rates of homelessness are so high.
Many former foster youth reports having difficulty finding and maintaining employment because, of little to no recourse or experience.
“Reports on employment suggest that on average only one-third to one-half of youth out of substitute care are employed, but they do not identify full time vs. part time employment.” (3) With that being said, Foster youth do not earn enough to rake them out of poverty. “On average, former foster care earned $8000 compared to a national average of $18,300.” (3) Financial independence is often unattainable for forth kids. Some challenge facing employment assistance programs for foster youth is the availability of alternative sources of employment services. A large majority of youth receiving several types of employment assistance. “The source of that assistance – whether it be schools, substitute care providers or other community-based organizations – seems to have realized a fairly high rate of participation, which stands the face of this success.” (2) Youth Children have such a challenging time to maintain a job because of other personal issues. Many company will excuse the foster child of stealing if something comes up missing. “Studies have found lower earnings and higher joblessness rates among aged out youth compared to young people of a similar age range.” That is because jobs think they could trust “regular” young adults. Companies think the foster youth work ethic, experience and criminal background are not matches with other
youth.
The foster care system is a gateway into behavioral heal problems. Many youths transitioning out of care experience a mental health and physical health issues. “Foster youth are significantly more likely than nonfoster youth to have mental health, physical health, and behavioral problems. Studies suggest more than 50 % of foster youth have at least one mental health diagnosis, physical health problem or behavioral problem.” (3) Foster youth also experienced anxiety about depending on other people such as, when they need a place to sleep or when they need to borrow a couple bucks for a burger. Including worrying about be shut down if they do ask. The children in the system receive behavioral treatment for free while in care but when its time to age out they lose that treatment unless they can pay for it. “Studies included in the review find that most of youth in foster care drop out of their behavioral health treatment within a short period after leaving foster care. (4) “The studies of Leslie 31 found that over 50% of youth in the child welfare system used outpatient behavioral health services and that the rates of behavioral health service use increased immediately after contact with the child welfare system” (4)