Children aging out of foster care is common in the United States. Not only is aging out not unlikely, but the children not receiving basic housing or support after aging out is the sad reality of the welfare system. States’ departments of child and family services can simply fund these homes with just a few hundred dollars a month to be able to find homes for these young adults.
The foster care system is failing the youth as a whole. Every year that 23,000 children who age out is just a reminder of what the system isn’t doing. Far too many children are aging out of the foster care system each year. Each child who ages out deals with the mental health effects, such as PTSD, depression, etc. With no safety, nowhere to go, they are left to step into the real world alone. According to thenewfostercare.org, over 23,000 children age out of the foster care system each year. These numbers are a huge reminder of the failures of our foster care and child welfare system each year. Therefore, the foster care system is failing as a whole to keep our young adults safe.
Children aging out of foster care should be placed in programs by the children’s welfare system because that may be like a safety net and help them step into the real world after aging out. As seen from beyondfostercare.org, they give an opportunity to join programs that provide leeway to the real world. They provide housing until you are able to get back up onto your feet. This indicates growth within the over 23,000 kids who age out every year will be able to have as much guidance as they can to be able to learn about the real world. Therefore, the children’s welfare system as a whole should take action to automatically place children who age out of the system into programs or homes.
The only options for children who age out of the system are either the military or finding someone to live with, which is very unlikely, considering the fact that they had no one to stay with during their time in foster care. Although foster care is the better alternative rather than abusive households and such, it still has its flaws and defects that can be fixed by receiving more funding from states’ departments of social services, human services, or child protection services. If the foster care system were to receive around an estimated 900 dollars every month to open up programs for aged-out youth. I envision a future where children who age out of the foster care system are able to find some sort of sustainability in their lives, and they can find a place where they can belong.
Therefore, the children’s welfare system can take action by placing young adults in programs or basic housing to ensure our young adults have safety and can take care of basic needs under the care of the system. The childcare system can be funded by donations, states’ departments of children’s services, human services, or social services. No one can take care of themselves, so if these young adults can receive what they need, it would drop rates, keep those who age out off the streets, and improve mental health among the youth. The system needs to do its best to ensure children who age out don’t have to deal with the mental health effects by themselves.
