In our
society, even in the best of circumstance, youth go
through some very significant life changes between
age 15 and 21. The transitions in progress from
adolescence to adulthood are traumatic, full of ups
and downs and often momentous. During these years,
youth need to figure out who they are, where they
belong, and set goals for themselves in order to
meet the expectations of the adult world in which
they will all too soon have to live.
In addition
to the growing pains that all adolescents
experience, many young people in foster care have
already faced unbelievable obstacles as they need to
assume increasing levels of responsibility. Research
has firmly established that children in the foster
care system face more difficulties and hardships
than their non-foster care peers in their progress
to become competent and independent adults.
Young
people who are raised in families can remain in
their parents' homes and draw on parental support –
both financial and non-financial – well after
reaching the age of majority. Youth in care do not
have this option and unless they are furthering
their education as a full time student, they are cut
off from their sole support system at age 19. As a
student, their care is extended until they are 21,
which is often just short of the amount of time they
need to complete their university or vocational
training fully, leaving them without support before
they can attain their goals.
Some youth
in care have chronic health conditions or special
needs, yet they experience the same transitions in
life as any other adolescent. The difference is that
there are many additional needs and concerns that
need to be addressed before they become adults.
It is very
unfortunate that the transition to adulthood and
independence does not always happen for youth in
care as smoothly as one might hope. The need for
society to do more to help these youth gain their
independence has clearly been identified through
research studies and by those youth who have
themselves left care. The Children’s Aid Society of
Halifax has 167 children in its care. Some will
leave care when they are adopted, but most will grow
up in care. This year the foundation has the
opportunity to establish new programs which will
help address the problems facing children transition
out of care.
It has been
to our great benefit that the Children’s Aid
Foundation in Toronto decided to "hold hands" with
the CAS Foundation in Halifax. This partnership led
to an invitation for our foundation to submit a
proposal for a program or project which addressed
just these very problems. With a very generous
donation of $30,000 the CAS Foundation had funded
the Transition to Independence Project.
The Goal at the end of the project is to have in
place a service delivery framework for CAS staff
which will result in an increased consistency in
service delivery for youth leaving care, and provide
those youth with the tools and knowledge they will
need to be successful and thrive independently.
As well,
the program will develop a personal Resource Manual
for the youth who is leaving care, containing
important personal papers and records they might
need such as birth certificate, medical information,
school records, a resume and also information about
community resources which are youth oriented.
Throughout
the year, we will hold some evening workshops for
youth to help them learn to develop a budget, create
an effective resume and cover letter, grocery shop
practically, etc. The attending youth will receive
assistance with transportation, a pizza supper, and
an opportunity to socialize and interact with others
who are in the similar situations.
