AdoptaDad
02-10-2004, 12:47 PM
Plucked from another newsgroup. I've clipped a few paragraphs below, the
entire article can be found here...
http://www.chicagohomeless.org/factsfigures/renearticle.htm
"Each year over 20,000 youth leave the nation’s foster care system and
are expected -- often suddenly -- to support themselves. Research has
consistently shown that many of these youth are not safe or prepared for what
lies ahead. They have great difficulty making the transition to adulthood.
Children aging out of foster care have high rates of homelessness, poverty, and
early parenthood. They are more likely to enter the criminal justice system,
and more likely to become victims of crime than their mainstream peers. Less
than half graduate high school and very few have the opportunity to attend
college. In short, their ability to become healthy, productive citizens is
severely compromised."
x x x x x x x
"National data suggests that young people transitioning from wardship to
adulthood experience the expectation of self sufficiency as too fast, unplanned
and unexpected, making them feel "dumped" by the system, helpless to take
control of their lives, and unhopeful about the future. Id. In Illinois,
approximately 2,000 youth spend their seventeenth birthday in foster care. The
picture of youth aging out of the system in Illinois is no more hopeful than
the national picture, as shown in a recent study of the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services, in which caseworkers responded to questions about
a sampling of 580 older youth living in substitute care. Only 52% of the wards
age 18 and older had a high school diploma. Only 12.8% were working full time."
x x x x x x x
"Eleven percent were entirely idle, neither working nor attending school,
and 51% of those who were idle had entered the foster care system before their
12th birthday. 22% of those who were working earned less than minimum wage. 56%
earned minimum wage or slightly better. 74% of those who dropped out of school
were reported unemployed. 21% of the youth had serious difficulties, including
drug problems (5%) or medical, developmental or behavioral problems (16%),
which placed them at high to moderate risk, according to their caseworkers. 34%
of the female wards over age 17 either had custody of a child or were pregnant
at the time of the study."
x x x x x x x
"But studies show that even youth growing up with their families need
significant assistance in the transition to adulthood. 1998 census data reports
that a full 59% of males and 48% of females between 18-24 years old were living
at home. U.S. Bureau of the Census, YOUNG ADULTS LIVING AT HOME: 1960 TO
PRESENT, (March 1998 Update)."
x x x x x x x
Dad
x x x x x x x
entire article can be found here...
http://www.chicagohomeless.org/factsfigures/renearticle.htm
"Each year over 20,000 youth leave the nation’s foster care system and
are expected -- often suddenly -- to support themselves. Research has
consistently shown that many of these youth are not safe or prepared for what
lies ahead. They have great difficulty making the transition to adulthood.
Children aging out of foster care have high rates of homelessness, poverty, and
early parenthood. They are more likely to enter the criminal justice system,
and more likely to become victims of crime than their mainstream peers. Less
than half graduate high school and very few have the opportunity to attend
college. In short, their ability to become healthy, productive citizens is
severely compromised."
x x x x x x x
"National data suggests that young people transitioning from wardship to
adulthood experience the expectation of self sufficiency as too fast, unplanned
and unexpected, making them feel "dumped" by the system, helpless to take
control of their lives, and unhopeful about the future. Id. In Illinois,
approximately 2,000 youth spend their seventeenth birthday in foster care. The
picture of youth aging out of the system in Illinois is no more hopeful than
the national picture, as shown in a recent study of the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services, in which caseworkers responded to questions about
a sampling of 580 older youth living in substitute care. Only 52% of the wards
age 18 and older had a high school diploma. Only 12.8% were working full time."
x x x x x x x
"Eleven percent were entirely idle, neither working nor attending school,
and 51% of those who were idle had entered the foster care system before their
12th birthday. 22% of those who were working earned less than minimum wage. 56%
earned minimum wage or slightly better. 74% of those who dropped out of school
were reported unemployed. 21% of the youth had serious difficulties, including
drug problems (5%) or medical, developmental or behavioral problems (16%),
which placed them at high to moderate risk, according to their caseworkers. 34%
of the female wards over age 17 either had custody of a child or were pregnant
at the time of the study."
x x x x x x x
"But studies show that even youth growing up with their families need
significant assistance in the transition to adulthood. 1998 census data reports
that a full 59% of males and 48% of females between 18-24 years old were living
at home. U.S. Bureau of the Census, YOUNG ADULTS LIVING AT HOME: 1960 TO
PRESENT, (March 1998 Update)."
x x x x x x x
Dad
x x x x x x x
