If you “LIKE” Foster2Forever on Facebook, you saw a link to our new community forum about our new placement…
Bubba, my 20-year-old stepson, is back home – for a little while – at least until he is able to go out on his own again. He didn’t want to move back home, and at first resisted, but given the situation of having to find a new place quickly, he is here. Stinkpot and Lil Bit are excited to have their Bubba home. We are all in the transition phase of an adult child moving back in. [Bubba has a different schedule that the rest of us.:)]
However, this incident really made me think about the youth that have aged out of the foster care system. Bubba didn’t want to move back home, but he knew this:
We are his family and he could always come home!
I have read statistics that up to 33% of former foster kids that have aged out of the foster care system will become homeless within three years.[1] Nearly as many (30%) will be arrested. Here are some other disheartening statistics:
- 50% will drop out of school;
- At age 21, only 25% will still be enrolled in school;
only 2% will have earned a 2-year-degree - 62% will be unemployed 12-18 months after aging out;
- 50% will be unemployed at age 21; median yearly income will be $5,450
- 60-70% will have babies by the age of 21
Courtney, M., Dworsky, A., Cusick, G., Perez, A., & Keller, T. (2007). Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 21. Chapin Hall Center for Children, Univ of Chicago. Wertheimer, R., (2002) Youth Who “Age Out” of Foster Care: Troubled Lives, Troubling Prospects, Washington, D.C.: Child Trends.
These youth have endured dysfunction and trauma in their families of origin, and have sadly, come to the realization:
“I have nobody. I am alone.“
Nowhere to go when they’re down on their luck. Sad when you think about the nearly 30,000 youth that age out of the U.S. foster care system every year.
Our Bubba does have a place to go, and now we are transitioning with him assimilating back into our family. [He has a different schedule and is now a smoker.]
Have any of your foster kids aged out yet? Have any of your adult children moved back home? I’d love to hear your stories!
Come join us in our community on Thursday at 2pm CST for a LIVE CHAT!!!
