Fear of the unknown — what happens when a foster child ages out?
The adult experience of Michiganders who were once in foster care is seldom discussed in mainstream conversations about the state of the foster care system. These young adults, who have aged out of their systems of care, often enter and navigate adulthood without the benefits of the foundational support systems that many of us take for granted. A census of former foster youth, the adults who left the state's foster care system upon turning 18, showed room for improvement in youth services in the state of Michigan, focused particularly on health, employment and education. Youth who move from foster care to adulthood face many challenges, including homelessness, mental health issues and limited access to higher education and job opportunities. For Michigan adults in foster care , these hurdles can be unbeatable, as they are expected to build lives on their own with little to no family support to help pick up the pieces. As they move on to the next stage in their life, the structure ...