Engage Youth, Build Supports, and Strengthen Opportunities

May is National Foster Care Month!

This year, the focus is on "Engaging Youth, Building Support, and Strengthening Opportunities." The primary goal is to raise awareness about genuine youth involvement, the significance of lifelong connections, and how to best support young adults as they transition out of foster care.

There are currently more than 390,000 children and youth in foster care. Out of those, nearly 20,000 are emancipated from foster care without being placed with a permanent family. Shockingly, in 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care who were between 14 and 21 years old left care without receiving the federally funded services that are necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living.

As young people transition from adolescence to adulthood, they reach significant developmental milestones. These include acquiring decision-making and coping skills, and becoming more independent. During this period, older youth often rely on family and other supportive adults for guidance, financial support and emotional safety. Unfortunately, these supports are often not available to older youth leaving the foster care system. Such youth are at a higher risk of experiencing adverse outcomes as adults, including homelessness, low educational attainment, and high rates of unemployment.

The role played by individuals from all parts of child welfare in supporting children, youth, and families is crucial, and it is more important than ever for our communities to get involved. Working together to identify appropriate supports to establish meaningful connections for these children will help ensure success. One way that community members can help is by learning more about Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA volunteers strengthen connections and engagement for our community's most vulnerable youth. They are able to provide consistent, constant support to a youth, and help them face transitional challenges while stepping into adulthood.

To learn how you can get involved contact Michelle Zombeck at michelle@childadvocacy.net or click Court Appointed Special Advocates – Child Advocacy

Sources:

National Foster Care Month (2024, January). National Foster Care Month. Child Welfare Information Gateway. https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

Rosenberg, R. and Abbott, S. (2019, June 9). Supporting Older Youth Beyond Age 18: Examining Data and Trends in Extended Foster Care. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/supporting-older-youth-beyond-age-18-examining-data-and-trends-in-extended-foster-care

Michelle Zombeck

CASA Program Director