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 of the system does not always translate into the appropriate resources for them, leaving them without the necessary support, that would help prevent future poverty and homelessness.



But Michigan has been gradually working through these issues. Some community organizations and local governments are already seeing the need in offering continuing support to foster care adults. Programs aimed at housing assistance, employment training and mental health services are slowly being offered. But these efforts must grow to serve an increasingly aged population of adults from foster care in Michigan.

For some, this path may still be a tough one, to those we should raise awareness and bring advocacy, so that more resources can be focused on helping these people. With proper care and opportunities available during and after they reach the age of adulthood, foster care adults can be given the opportunity to create successful and fulfilling lives beyond the foster care system.

For more details about Compliance please visit our website: holycrossservices.org.


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