Aging Out

Growing Up and Moving Out

Eighteen years old is the normal age for emancipation. I understand they can stay in foster care until they are nineteen if they are still in high school.

Since these children change schools so much, missed grades are not unusual.

Here are a few choices they can make:

• At sixteen, a 4/4 plan, which is 4 hours of school and 4 hours of work each day.
• An independent living center which is a supervised setting and work training program where there is compensation for them.
• Job Corp, which is a residential setting.
• Military if they have a high school diploma or passed the GED test.

The goal is to prepare them as soon as possible in order for them to be independent and responsible people in society.

The following statistics is provided by the California Department of Social Services on Foster Children that have been emancipated:

• 40% don't have a high school diploma
• 25% become homeless
• 40 % go on welfare
• 33% get arrested

Through the County Social Worker, scholarships can be obtained along with reimbursement for yearbooks and school rings and there is available to them a Foster Care Ombudsman.