Foster Care Emancipation

It's one thing to be accountable for your choices when you are an adult, but it's quite another to have your choices taken from you when you're still a kid, to realize that adults can turn your world upside down and there isn't a thing you can do about it, to be set up for failure and still somehow expected to rise above it. We need to do better here...shuffling these kids around is the worst thing ever. So are the foster parents who only do it for the money, the overworked social workers who burn out trying to make a difference....the whole thing sucks. But the bottom line is that if these kids have no stability, can't stay in school and then get thrown out into the world on their own at 18, we've done the equivalent of throwing a three year old into a pool and saying, "Don't drown!" and walking away, hoping for the best. I hope Chris manages to beat the statistics.

Thanks for your response. You are completely right about the almost insurmountable obstacles kids like Chris face. I'd urge everyone to spend a little time helping out. There are many ways to get involved from mentoring to helping kids after the age of 18.

For mentoring try: Children Uniting Nations www.childrenunitingnations.org

For helping kids Chris' age try: Hollywood Media and Arts www.hollywood-arts.org/

i agree with pamela that it's a bad situation all around or 'the whole thing sucks' as she put it. i thank dheimpel for sharing chris' story and also offering suggestions here for what people can do to actually help and make a difference. unfortunately, too many times people see stories like this and say 'i wish i could help' without digging deeper to find out how they can actually help. it's not always about donating $. just donating school supplies or any time you can donate is invaluable. again, thanks for doing this piece on chris and hopefully many more people will be able to see this and be moved by it as i have been and look into mentoring programs and helping out kids through the links dheimpel has provided above.

Exposing these issues are so important because for people who don't live in these areas these problems don't exist. Showing these children for who they are, their dreams and goals puts a face on foster care and a face is a lot harder to ignore than a number. People need to realize that just because they've gone through the system doesn't mean they are lost youth that have no value to society. We can't set them up for failure and except them to rise above alone. An 18 yr old may be "legally" an adult but it is a far cry from the maturity level of what actually constitutes an adult. Especially when they haven't been raised and taught the proper tools on how to brave this exceedingly challenging world. We always say "The children are our future" but somehow do not include these children in that future. In my opinion that is the first step to fixing this problem. We need to recognize their potential and help them along as we do the rest of this country's youth

Los Angeles County is a (large) microcosm of the rest of the state, because it has almost half of the children in foster care in the state. Every county has a program designed to help children emancipating from foster care, but as the video reports, there are so few transitional housing spaces available it is almost like there are no options at all. Some counties are assisting these children better than others, but none are doing a stellar job. The legislature uses the (perpetual) budget crisis to justify not increasing funding for foster care and pre- and post-emancipation services, while holding a special election in February at a cost of $70 million when a regular election was scheduled for June. It is all about priorities and unfortunately, abused, neglected and abandoned children are not our state's current priority.

too bad that guy didnt follow through with the LAFD. that seemed like a good idea...

After working in foster care for several years and fostering a young person myself, I commend Daniel for putting together a relevant profile on one young man who symbolizes many all too often nameless and faceless. Foster care is one part of a vicious never ending cycle that keeps people in poverty.

This is interesting because our government is concerned more about bailing out "companies too large to fail" but has little or no concern about the youth of our nation. In other words, the future of this country is being ignored and pushed into desperate circumstances. Why is this not a national issue? Why are we setting up these youths for failure? Where is a lobbying group for these kids?

This pod hits very close to home for me. I am the oldest of seven children all whom not only lived in foster homes but were sexually abused and in my case raped in foster care.
Two of my five brothers (18&19) are at least five years behind in their mental and physical development, the younger of the two is functionally illiterate.
The care they received in boys home consisted of a "Staff" of underpaid, overworked, uneducated group of people coming in and out of the house in shifts. No one asks about homework or offer any activities beyond watching the staff themselves play video games. For ten years!
These boys and so many many others are left to sink or swim.
They're lost and hurt. I am outraged daily for them. I have to watch them spiral down helpless because they are criminals now, and not even there older sister can help them.

I

As someone who works with young homeless adults, the most surprising thing is how 18 is considered the age of "adulthood". The cycle of poverty among young adults is unfortunately too often overlooked and brushed aside.

it is a shame that our society does not value its youth. This is a waste of human potential and our future. Why is there no national outcry about this?This story should be retold over and over again.

Great reporting, very infornmative. Is there any way that this reporter could delve deeper into these issues and report back?

I have read a little about this problem and can't believe how little concern there appears to be for these kids' welfare. It is heart breaking to see these kids basically on their own at such young ages. Most of them don't have a prayer for a successful, happy life having not had the good fortune of a caring adult to take an interest in helping guide them along. Shame on our society for turning our backs on them!

Daniel, thank you for making this film.

I think another concern is what about the kids who actually have families who WANT to take care of them but CPS literally kidnaps them for bonus and incentive money.

CPS is trafficking in children for nothing but money and your film is showing the results.

I know. I lived it. My 2 grandkids were stolen from a decent, hard-working, loving dad. It took us 12 years to get our babies back.

There is no justice in family court. It's a conniving, greedy enterprise that destroys children's lives.

If you're interested in our story contact me at saludevil at aol dot com.

Thank you, Daniel!

Great video.

Keep up the good work. The people need to know the truth

http://www.LegallyKidnapped.blogspot.com

Youth who grow up in the foster care system often have no stability, like Chris. In addition, many have found themselves in juvenile detention or just bounced from group home to group home. Many of them lack adult role models and most do not even have basic life skills. “How do I find a job?” “How do I balance a checkbook?” “How do I keep myself off the street?” How can they survive foster care emancipation?

When I think about emancipation, the idea is to be free of constraint and in control of one’s own life and destiny. How can our society think that just because an individual turns the magical age of 18, he/she can be in control? The outlook is so depressing and grim for the majority of these youth. What is our call to action? How can we do something to provide support to them? Mentoring. Volunteering. Proposing some sort of incentive or training for those people who become foster parents? I don’t know what the answer is to this less than hopeful situation.

All I can say is, this story, with Chris as the human example, must be shared more broadly. Please help to raise awareness far and wide.

The general public is ignorant of the truth. It's all a big secret. They need to be educated.

As a case manager and psychotherapist, serving the homeless and at risk for homeless population, I meet many individuals with stories similar to Chris'. The system did not provide them with adequate resources to succeed. Because they are adults, it is often times assumed that these individuals can fend for themselves, regardless of their history.
Unfortunately, many people do not acknowledge or care to understand the root of homelessness, and often times label homeless individuals as lazy or crazy. In addition to needing funding for housing and case management/social work/mental health support do deal with the aftermath of a failing foster care system, further development/funding of early intervention programs are key. For this to happen, awareness is important.
Great video.

This situation involving children who have been institutionalized for most of the lives is disheartening to say the least. The basic factor that makes the difference between children who make a productive life for themselves is love. The basics of food, clothing and shelter is not enough. When the "system" realizes this we won't have so many children gravitating to gangs and other unhealthy situations that are negative influences on the future of our society. For the children trapped in the system, believe in yourself. Never give up on yourself. Create your own future and don't wait for someone to come rescue you. It is your life, so live it to fullest and the best of your ability.

Puts things in perspective..., even some of the comments regarding the pod on chris grip me as I struggle to relate. I'm so glad lights being shed on this issue -the proof is in the stats..
Thks for the link to get connected,- to prove support. and assist Our generation in need.

Excellent pod about an under-reported situation.
Liberty of another kind.

www.LivingAdvantageInc.org as a non-profit we service these foster youth and find this to be EXACTLY ture!!! Our organziation does not expect Chris to follow up with the Fire Department, it will take the community to help Chris be successful. Chris is just trying to survive.........

College?

Terrific job on a very hidden and heartbreaking problem. It's tough enough for teens with parents to navigate the system, and it is so unfair to yank foster kids from one school to another. Well-run orphanages for the 21st century could be the way to go. About 30 years ago, I visited one of the last working orphanages in Xenia, Ohio -- the Soldiers & Sailors Orphanage, I believe it was called. Everyone graduated from high school and most went to college. A far cry from what happens now.

I really appreciate all the comments. It is great to see how engaged everyone is. The following is a story that I wrote for the Jewish Journal of Greater LA. One of the main characters is a good friend of Chris, facing a similarly difficult future:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/philanthropy/article/compassion_patience_art_hope_f...

Thanks,

Daniel

I just did a site visit as part of my company's corporate contributions committee to Aviva Family and Children's Services in Hollywood. It is a wonderful resource for girls who are in the foster care system to find both therapeutic and education program support. Check out www.avivacenter.org for more information.

I have also visited New Village Charter School for girls, which offers similar programs. Has anyone heard of resources targeting young men?