Morgan Simpson Transition
Easing the Transition: The Role of Foster Parents
The advocacy project Morgan Simpson and I completed took a closer look at the transitory period foster youth face when they age out of the foster care system. Upon their eighteenth birthday, unless they sign a Continuing Residential Support (CARS) Agreement or join the LINKS program, foster youth are considered legal adults no longer under the care of the State. This means that all the services they were receiving—housing, medical, mental health, et cetera—cease. For the majority of the adolescents in a permanent family, the transition from childhood to adulthood is a gradual process comprised of stages of increasing responsibility and autonomy. Foster youth are not granted that luxury; their …show more content…
We began by speaking with Mrs. Jessie Cotton, a foster parent. Her nine years as a foster parent afford her the ability to speak to this issue. Roman Rys, a former foster youth, was interviewed about his experiences going from foster care to independence. Finally, we spoke with Mrs. Angel Roberts and Crystal Kellerman, who work at Beaufort County’s Department of Social Services (DSS). Both women are in the foster care division.
After speaking with these individuals, it was decided the focus of this project should be to make foster parents aware of the influence they can have in making the foster youth’s transition smoother. With that power, the aim was to encourage foster parents to assist the youth in building their independence and like skills that will benefit them throughout the remainder of their …show more content…
While there have been numerous studies on the reality of a swift adulthood for former foster youth, many foster parents are uninformed of the severity of such a phenomenon. Such possible consequences include increased homelessness, less education, unemployment, increased involvement in the criminal justice system, and increased teenage pregnancy.
The second goal was to help foster parents recognize that they have the power to help reduce the likelihood of the aforementioned effects. Foster parents typically aspire to help children and teenagers, which is why they choose to foster, but some may not realize just how impactful their time with this population can be. Building on their desire to help create a better life for foster youth, this project empowers parents to become more active in the adolescent’s growth. It is simple to advise parents to teach young people to become contributing members of society, but it is another thing to make that a reality. The video and brochure are intended to offer some concrete suggestions foster parents can implement. While neither provide an all-encompassing list, they are a starting point for guiding youth towards
The advocacy project Morgan Simpson and I completed took a closer look at the transitory period foster youth face when they age out of the foster care system. Upon their eighteenth birthday, unless they sign a Continuing Residential Support (CARS) Agreement or join the LINKS program, foster youth are considered legal adults no longer under the care of the State. This means that all the services they were receiving—housing, medical, mental health, et cetera—cease. For the majority of the adolescents in a permanent family, the transition from childhood to adulthood is a gradual process comprised of stages of increasing responsibility and autonomy. Foster youth are not granted that luxury; their …show more content…
We began by speaking with Mrs. Jessie Cotton, a foster parent. Her nine years as a foster parent afford her the ability to speak to this issue. Roman Rys, a former foster youth, was interviewed about his experiences going from foster care to independence. Finally, we spoke with Mrs. Angel Roberts and Crystal Kellerman, who work at Beaufort County’s Department of Social Services (DSS). Both women are in the foster care division.
After speaking with these individuals, it was decided the focus of this project should be to make foster parents aware of the influence they can have in making the foster youth’s transition smoother. With that power, the aim was to encourage foster parents to assist the youth in building their independence and like skills that will benefit them throughout the remainder of their …show more content…
While there have been numerous studies on the reality of a swift adulthood for former foster youth, many foster parents are uninformed of the severity of such a phenomenon. Such possible consequences include increased homelessness, less education, unemployment, increased involvement in the criminal justice system, and increased teenage pregnancy.
The second goal was to help foster parents recognize that they have the power to help reduce the likelihood of the aforementioned effects. Foster parents typically aspire to help children and teenagers, which is why they choose to foster, but some may not realize just how impactful their time with this population can be. Building on their desire to help create a better life for foster youth, this project empowers parents to become more active in the adolescent’s growth. It is simple to advise parents to teach young people to become contributing members of society, but it is another thing to make that a reality. The video and brochure are intended to offer some concrete suggestions foster parents can implement. While neither provide an all-encompassing list, they are a starting point for guiding youth towards