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When foster children reach 18 years old and have graduated from high
school, they sometimes lack the resources necessary to get off to a good start in
the world.
Without families providing help with tuition, advice or a simple bed and roof,
some of the young adults end up struggling as they leave the oversight of the Los
Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, county officials say.
“Research shows that most youth who emancipate without permanency or a
connection to a committed adult, do so without adequate resources to succeed,” said
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose 5th District includes the Antelope Valley.
“This places them at greater risk of unemployment, homelessness, incarceration
, substance abuse/mental health issues and long-term dependence on public assistance.”
The county offers various services to emancipated foster youth, including
nearly 250 transitional housing beds, life skills training, job training, transportation
and help accessing college tuition assistance, said Rhelda Shabazz, the
department’s division chief of emancipation services.
The department unit is limited in the amount of services it can offer by its $18
million budget, which is based on the number of children aged 16 to 18 under
departmental care, Shabazz said. “We always (say), if we’re expected to serve
youth until 21, we need funding for youth until they’re 21,” she said. “We don’t want
to
deny youth services because of funding issues, but it becomes a challenge for the
county.”
Antonovich said the department would like to see state support for providing
services until emancipated foster youth reach age 21.
On Tuesday, Antonovich will ask the Board of Supervisors to direct county
department to work with other agencies to sponsor legislation “to provide enhanced
services and financial supports” to each young adults.
“Just as youth who leave their families as young adults depend upon the
continued support of their birth parents to meet their individualized needs, so do
youth emancipating from foster care,” Antonovich said. “These needs may include
housing, educational or employment support and/or specialized supports as youth
transition to the adult service systems designed to accommodate their higher level
needs.”
Similar legislation last year failed because of concerns about the cost, Antonovich
said.
Each year, about 4,000 youths statewide are emancipated from the foster
care system, including about 1,200 from L.A. County. Shabazz said about 1,000
youths are emancipated from Children and Family Services and the rest come from
the county Probation Department.
Youths taking advantage of the county’s transitional housing program must be
working or looking for work, and must pay a percentage of their income as rent. That
money is saved in a trust fund and given back when they leave the housing, Shabazz
said.
Because of federal regulations, at least four of the beds are in the Antelope
Valley service planning area, and generally 10 or more beds are in the Valley, she
said. |
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