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A Lifeline for Youth Aging Out of the Foster Care System
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oday’s foster youth, through no fault of their own, face burdens most of us can’t fathom. With little to no support, they must try to chart a course for a successful and productive life. In most states, at age 18, youth in foster care “age out” of the system, and overwhelmingly, are unprepared to face life on their own. A University of Chicago study on former foster youth, observed that, “For most young people, the transition to adulthood is a gradual process. Many continue to receive financial and emotional support from their parents or other family members well past age 18.” This statement is in stark contrast to youth in foster care, however, as they are too old for the child welfare system but often unprepared to live as independent adults. Foster youth are expected to make it on their own long before the vast majority of their peers. Youth aging out of foster care are often defined by a past characterized by trauma, tragedy, and broken families. As a consequence, they are often consequently preoccupied with their present and focused on surviving and managing daily obstacles. There is little time to think about, much less prepare for, the future. 58
FON MAGAZINE / HOLIDAY ISSUE 2020 / FONMagazine.com
“For most young people, the transition to adulthood is a gradual process. Many continue to receive financial and emotional support from their parents or other family members well past age 18.”
