Let me pick your brains for a minute or 3.
What does the average state do to help a child prepare to age out of foster care?
Do they allow them to get jobs at 16? Do they allow them to drive? What kinds of life skills training do they get besides what they recieve from the foster home? Do they get to practice being adults before being turned out or is there too much adult supervision to allow them to practice? Why do the statistics say that lots drop out of high school? What percentage of foster parents do you suppose are just in it for the money, who do the bare minimum then bid the kids farewell?
I have been reading studies about what happens to these kids after they are 18 and it's very ugly. What needs to change? Can these kids not be helped to become productive citizens and functioning members of society because of the reasons they came into care? Are their placement so many that they get no exposure to anything resembling a normal adult lifestyle?
I could go on but if anyone wishes to comment please give your experience or opinion. I am sure it is a point of contention with many people who are in this to help these kids.
