On Their Own: What Happens to Kids When They Age Out of the Foster Care System Book

For most young people, crossing the threshold from adolescence into adulthood is an angst-filled journey that can take years to complete, and requires the guidance and support of caring adults. But for some children, there is a deadline past which no guidance, support or supervision is available. Each year, as many as 25,000 teenagers "age out" of foster care, usually when they turn eighteen. For most of their lives, a government agency had made every important decision for them. Suddenly, they are entirely alone, with no one to count on. What does it mean to be eighteen and on your own, without the family support and personal connections that most young people rely on? For many youth raised in foster care, it means largely unhappy endings, including sudden homelessness, unemployment, dead-end jobs, loneliness and despair. 'On Their Own' tells the compelling stories of ten young people whose lives are full of promise, but who face economic and social barriers stemming from the disruptions of foster care. For other youth, proper preparation for adulthood and support from caring adults helps them develop the resiliency and skills needed for success. As President Jimmy Carter writes in his Foreword: "The question we should ask ourselves is this: if we willingly give our own children the benefit of our support as they struggle to become independent, productive adults, why do we tolerate the abrupt withdrawal of support for youth who are aging out of care?"Read More