It seems that every day in the News, we hear about children being neglected and abused. We hear how the Government has stepped in and removed these children from their situations. We also hear how these children are placed into foster care. Some are adopted, but we never hear about the end result. What happens to these children after foster are?
Many foster children are the products of multiple placements and lack support systems found in a typical family. Suddenly, as they approach adulthood, they are expected to begin to support themselves. In studies of foster children newly out of custody, there is a significant increase (compared to their peer group) of homelessness, premarital pregnancy, incarceration, welfare, and incomplete education.
A disturbing consistency in the data examined over the last 10 years show higher rates of joblessness, unwed parenthood, suicide, and crime. A University of Wisconsin study showed that 4 out of 10 homeless persons are former foster children.
The Department of Children and Family Services reports that over 1700, children face this painful reality in the Arlington, Texas, and more in the surrounding areas today.
These young people are 18 to 21 years of age, they are too old to be helped by Child Protective Services. Some of these young adults are trying to stay in school and continue their education, but most have not and chose to drop out of school altogether, an estimated 99% do not have life skills, vocational direction, or financial resources to maintain a home or employment. With fragile connections to any support structure, many are at risk for the factors detailed above at great cost to our community.
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