Dr. Eilers says, “18 isn’t a good thing for kids in foster care.” Sent out on their own with no one to care for them or teach them how to be an adult in the world, half of these kids end up homeless. “Week after week, we film segments for Forever Families… week after week, I meet the most amazing kids… and every second of every day I hope beyond all hope that we can make a difference in these kids lives… I don’t know if I have ever hoped so much as for Jarod.”
Last year at this time, Jarod was showing off his Junior ROTC uniform for his Forever Families segment. He was 15-years-old and only recently decided he wanted to be adopted. Jarod’s goal was to become a Sergeant, but he moved from foster home to foster home this year, and isn’t in ROTC anymore. The rest of year has been filled with just as many disappointments, and now his outlook on life is bleak. No 16-year-old should feel this hopeless.
Jarod came in to foster care when he was 10-years-old from his uncle’s house, where there were five kids, Jarod and his sister, and their three cousins. Jarod was the one who had to go into foster care.
He’s had a very hard time trusting adults, and who could blame him? Now he’s 16-years-old and repeating the 9th grade. In two years, he’ll age out of the foster care system. Foster teens on their own are at a higher risk of homelessness and substance abuse. “To me, it seems like it’s too late. For life, I guess. When I turn 18, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.
Jarod’s anger, frustration, and confusion have caused him to give up on adoption. His aunt was going to adopt him, but it wasn’t a good fit. They lived together for a month, but kept getting into fights. Now Jarod is in a shelter, where he says things aren’t going well.
“I got in trouble because I broke a door. I feel mad all the time. It’s not foster care; it’s not being adopted. It’s just when I turn 18, what am I going to do? Am I going to be on the streets? I don’t know what I’m going to do. I barely got an education. Ain’t nothing to do,” he said.
Article comments
1 - Val Stilwell MSCS
Organizations can help by utilizing technology - help, instruction, and training can all be delivered to kids before they age out by using media rich, interactive technology. Online training is available as we speak. Learning how to find apartments, jobs, manage money, cook, social skills, dealing with anger, and much more is available for these kids. - inexpensively too. The social work world has got to rethink its approach to traditional methods and incorporate online programs to help these kids.
Foster resource homes have a first time failure rate of 47-62% because the foster parents don't get topic specific behavioral training when they need it the most. Kids are placed in their homes with tough behavioral challenges. Agencies can provide immediate, specific training to foster parents - the same day they place a child.. the parents learn techniques, the kids get understood and the jumping from home to home slows down.
Using technology, kids can come with directions. There's simply no excuse today to not have information available when it's needed the most - not in today's techonolocially able world.
2 - Needham Mayes
There is a dire need to assist these children. How can we help? [Personal contact info deleted] We are a community of social services providers.
The Sabaoth Group. Mrs. Anita Taylor is President.
3 - Mildred
Needham Mayes
You're an a**. You made it clear that you need dire need. Remember this if nothing else the World is round and what you ditch out comes back to you. You must be one of those people that are complaining all the time and wondering why Bad things continue to happen to you. Read your statement again and YOU will know why you feel unlucky.
4 - Angela Nash
We are writing a book on the subject of orphans and children of the foster care system. With a portion of the proceeds from our book we will build transitional homes across the U.S for those who have aged out but still need assistance. We are looking for stories to complete our book. Is there anyone out there willing to share their story? [Personal contact info deleted]
5 - Needham Mayes
You are not talking about this Needham Mayes
All I have done was advocate for social services for this needy population in which I have supervised
6 - Needham Mayes
Hi, Mildred,
What are you talking about?I have assisted and supervised others and was asked for information to help this population, but, why am I even responding to your ignorance?
[Personal contact info deleted]
Needham Mayes,LCSW,PHD