A Proposal to Help Decrease Homelessness of Children after Foster Care

One of the most prominent issues facing American social workers at this time is how we care for children in foster care and what happens to them once they leave the system. Too many times, children in the system turn 18 and are turned out on their own with little to no help. Occasionally, a family or mentor will step in to help take care of the child until they find a stable job or begin to get an education but too often, this is not the case. Instead, these children who were once bounced from home to home no longer have a home at all. Children who have just barely, or possibly not even, graduated from high school are expected to be entirely independent while at one of the toughest parts of their lives.

Statistics

Of the many people who experience homelessness throughout their lifetime, approximately 1.5 to 1.7 million of these are children and youth, many from the foster care system (Ziotnick, 2009). Another study found that “5.0%… of youth 12-17 years old experienced at least 1 day of homelessness” of which 20% had been in foster care or a group home at one point in their life (Ziotnick, 2009). These statistics are only from when the children are under the age of 17, still seen as youth in the eyes of the law. Once these children age out of the system, the percentage of homelessness is astonishing.

It is estimated that ” between 11% and 36%…become homeless during the transition to adulthood” (Dworsky, A., Napolitano, L., & Courtney, M., 2013). This is more than double the amount of those who go homeless as youths. Since these new adults have little to no support system, it’s hard for them get what they need. They’re thrown into the real world and must adapt as they go as opposed to those living with biological families or who have been adopted who have support from their parents, siblings, extended family, etc. Adults from the foster care system make up one of the largest groups of homeless people; averaging at about one third of the homeless population depending on the area (Ziotnick, 2013).

Effects of Homelessness

There are the obvious effects one thinks of when they think of homelessness: decline in health, malnourishment, less likely to be employed. But there are also other effects that many people don’t think about but affect the homeless population immensely. One of these effects is the likelihood for homeless teens to be forced into prostitution and sex trafficking. Sometimes, the teens’ situations are even so dire that they willingly subject themselves to these horrors that most people can’t even begin to imagine. They sell their bodies in exchange for food, shelter, and a source of income. Not only do these teens have to worry about their temporary source of income, they now have to worry about STIs, unwanted pregnancies, and the mental trauma that comes along with this rape (Gibbs, D. A., Hardison Walters, J. L., Lutnick, A., Miller, S., & Kluckman, M., 2015).

Another risk of being homeless is that one will turn to a life of crime. The reasons for this seem to be very similar to why homeless youth would allow themselves to be used as prostitutes and sex slaves. They’re looking for money. They need a steady source of income to be able to afford clothing, food, and housing. So instead of selling their bodies for money, many decide to simply cut out the middle man and steal what they need instead. Many who are homeless would rather risk jail time than starvation and the elements because they are assured food and shelter (Fielding, K., & Forchuk, C., 2013).

How We Can Help

Currently, the government does little to protect those who have aged out of the foster care system. Policies vary from state to state but there is no overarching set of guidelines that anyone must follow. Most still require former foster care residents who turn 18 to become independent with little to no help. This means that they then typically end up on the streets, in jail, or on one or more forms of public assistance. While none of these things make these people bad people, they are preventable and we as social workers should do more to prevent these situations from occurring.

One measure that is currently being used is that “states will be required to track the outcomes of current and former foster youth into early adulthood” (Dworsky, A., & Courtney, M. E., 2009). This holds states accountable for helping children get off the streets and to make sure they’re getting proper care. They would have to make sure that the adults who have just come out of the foster care system have an adequate source of housing, food, and income. If they are unable to access these things, they will then have a support system to help them adjust and get what they need.

Another viable option is for states to “consider passing legislation that would allow youths to remain in foster care until their 21st birthday” (Dworsky, A., Napolitano, L., & Courtney, M., 2013). Although this is a short term solution, it would help youth to get a start in their adult life before having to move out on their own. They would have a chance to get financial support as they begin college or to at least get a job and have a secure financial background before being forced to find their own source of housing and food.

Conclusion

As if the transition to adulthood is not difficult enough as it is, it is immensely more difficult for those who were never able to leave the foster care system. These children have already experienced more trauma than most people will in a lifetime. Many are abused, have mental illness, never had a stable source of love and affection, and many other things that most people take for granted. To suddenly become independent is a source of shock most college students face and understand but many have a support system of friends and family to help them through it. Newly emancipated foster care adults rarely have this support system. If they were bounced from home to home often, it’s likely they don’t have a strong relationship with many, if any, adults or peers their age. Social workers must fight to right this injustice. Just because a child’s life was filled with tragedy and instability doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an equal chance at a bright future. In fact, I believe this makes them deserve it all the more. As social workers, we must make an impact early on in children’s lives to shape them effectively and set them on the right path. By helping adults who have recently left the foster care system get further education or gain important life skills, we can make a positive impact on their life and help to keep these people off the streets and out of jail. Social workers must form relationships early to gain trust and effectively help the community. By reforming the foster care system in America, social workers can save the government money that can be used for other demographics as well as provide a safe and loving life for those children who have been through the most trauma.

References

• Dworsky, A., & Courtney, M. E. (2009). Homelessness and the Transition from Foster Care to Adulthood. Child Welfare, 88(4), 23-56.
• Dworsky, A., Napolitano, L., & Courtney, M. (2013). Homelessness During the Transition From Foster Care to Adulthood. American Journal of Public Health, 103(S2), S318-S323. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301455
• Fielding, K., & Forchuk, C. (2013). Exploring the Factors Associated With Youth Homelessness and Arrests. Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 26(4), 225-233. doi:10.1111/jcap.12056
• Gibbs, D. A., Hardison Walters, J. L., Lutnick, A., Miller, S., & Kluckman, M. (2015). Services to domestic minor victims of sex trafficking: Opportunities for engagement and support. Children & Youth Services Review, 541-7. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.04.003
• Ziotnick, C. (2009). What Research Tells Us About the Intersecting Streams of Homelessness and Foster Care. American Journal Of Orthopsychiatry (Wiley-Blackwell), 79(3), 319-325. doi:10.1037/a0017218

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