Many Emancipated Foster Youth Become Homeless, Unemployed

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published January 31, 2007 at 9:07 AM PST

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

A recent report has brought attention to how California assists its foster youth once they turn 18 years old. Host Tom Fudge speaks with a foster teen who has been through the system, with the author

Tom Fudge: More than 4,000 California foster kids turn 18 every year, which means that they cease to be wards of the state. We call it emancipation. But critics of the system say they're not really set free, they're just cut loose. And it is true that a large percentage of foster children end up homeless and unemployed following their 18th birthday.

A San Diego based group called The Children's Advocacy Institute has a proposal to address the problem. The group, which is part of the USD Law School, wants the state to create a Transition Guardian Plan. People at the institute say it's unrealistic to say that an 18-year-old foster kid can be truly independent. They'd like to see the state continue to look after the person's interests into their mid-twenties.

Guests

Sophia Herman, a foster teen who recently "aged out" of the system.
Melanie Delgado , staff attorney for the Children's Advocacy Institute that authored the report, "Expanding Transitional Services for Emancipated Foster Youth: An Investment in California's Tomorrow." The institute is part of the University of San Diego School of Law.
Cathi Palatella , executive assistant for the county's Child Welfare Services.