After studying foster care adults in Illinois, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assemblyman Jim Beall, introduced a bill that would extend foster care from age 18 to 21 for foster care teens. The thought is that the state needs to be "better parents" to the group of kids California has taken custody. Foster children have often suffered extreme abuse and neglect, to toss them out at such a young age leaves many teens homeless, incarcerated, abusing drugs and alcohol, or pregnant. Many foster children who "age out" of the system have few healthy support people in their lives to help with their transition into adulthood.
Research suggested that California would see a cost benefit by extending foster care to 21. This is due to the youth remaining free from incarceration and the need for other public assistance programs.
The option to remain in foster care three more years will be left up to the foster care youth. Many may choose not to utilize the option to remain in state's custody. Hopefully more teens will take the state up on the option and work towards being better prepared for adulthood.
SOURCES:
California legislators consider extending foster care through age 21
- MercuryNews.com
Report: Extending Foster Care Aid Saves Money
- KSBW.com
there should be foster care from birth to 21 for every child that needs it that have considered normal IQ’s. Extended care should consist for all others as needed through assisted adotive or assisted guardianship programs.
Child progress needs to be monitored. The independent programs can work when the proper expectations are placed. Too many teens have been allowed to make decision they were not mentally ready to have. Much in life is a privage not just a right.
Lastly there should be a program that checks on the where abouts and success of those children whom have been returned to families that have left the states, and teens that have aged out. We need to learn from the mistakes system has made and truly improve.