This guest post was written by Teresa King.
On February 28th, 2013 King5.com posted an article titled Support Safe Housing for All Youth Aging Out of Foster Care written by Jim Theofelis. Theofelis is a guest contributor for King 5.com and Executive Director of The Mockingbird Society. The Mockingbird Society’s website states that their mission is to advocate for systems reform based on the personal experiences of children, youth, and families impacted by the foster care system.
The article was written in support of Washington state proposed legislation titled Extended Foster Care HB 1302/SB 5405. If passed, the legislation would extend housing support and benefits to youth aging out of foster care who are not able or not ready for an education track to continue to receive benefits. Youth benefiting from this legislation would include those who have significant barriers to employment or secondary education due to cognitive or physical disabilities and those who are working part time but still unable to afford full independence.
Theofelis provided support for the legislation by utilizing data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and by including the evaluation results of a 2006 Washington state pilot program titled Foster Care to 21. The pilot program allowed up to 150 youth to remain in foster care to age 21 to pursue their post secondary education. Not only did the youth participating in the program continue their education they also steered clear of negative behaviors attributed to many youth who are literally pushed out of foster care and forced to be on their own. Furthermore Theofelis states that the youth who participated in the pilot program not only realized greater academic achievement but also gained valuable work experience and were able to begin successful transition to health adulthood. Lastly he states that for every Washington tax dollar invested in this service the community received a return on investment of $1.35.
A significant strength of the article is that it offers evidence that extending benefits to youth aging out of foster care yields not only fiscal benefits but also societal benefits. Investing in youth now helps to ensure less future dependence on public assistance as well as potential involvement with the criminal justice system should youth aging out of foster care turn to crime as a means of supporting themselves. Although the article lacks the exact content or precise language used in the legislation; based upon what the author provides I believe legislation such as Washington state’s Extended Foster Care HB 1302/SB 5405 offers youth aging out of foster care a voice as well as the promoting socially responsible decision making. Most of the youth in foster care had no voice, or choice in whatever circumstances found them in foster care in the first place.
The article promotes that youth should have the right to decide for themselves whether or not they would like to pursue an education, employment or what direction they would like for their futures. Finally – after years of having guardians or courts make decisions for them, they would not be empowered to make decisions for themselves. The opportunity to guaranteed stability while making choices about their future is, in my opinion pursuing social justice for youth who may not have previously experienced justice.
You can read the article here.
