Adam B
Mrs. Zurkowski
Yellows
22 September, 2010
Foster Children
Gathering Information- Notes
Vestal, Christine. “States Trying to Extend Foster- Care Benefits.” stateline.org. Aug. 24, 2010: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 17 Sep. 2010.
Notes
· Foster children are usually on their own when they turn 18 because government spendings to foster parents end when their foster child turns 18
· Two states have ignored the current bill to actually help get foster children’s lives back on track when they turn 18. The two states are Vermont and Illinois
· Many states have tried to help these older foster children, but without the government’s help, the decisions are limited.
· Many people have said that the least the foster families could do is to continue to help and support their foster children until they have reunited with their families.
· After 18, many foster children end up on the curb, just waiting for someone to go out of their way to help them continues their lives into adulthood
· “While the total number of children in foster care has decreased over the past decade, the number of teens who ‘age out’ of the program without finding permanent homes has increased 41 percent since 1998” (Vestal pg.2).
· States are finding new ways to support these kids, even without the money, by providing some kind of help to the children who leave foster care
· Also in many states, the foster children who are in their teens and have not yet been adopted can be in a program where they learn skills needed for life including how to handle your bank accounts.
· “In addition, states are trying to find mentors—or ‘lifelong family connections’—for youths who have not found permanent families” (Vestal pg.2).
· These families give foster children a place to get help from, to spend time with, and sometimes, to get financial needs fixed out.
· Many people have spoken out and said that providing these foster children with services so they can grow into adulthood is better than having them end up in jail or federal courts.
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