Gains needed in foster care
Oklahoma's foster care system must step up its game in order to lower the rates of children who come out the system (age out) unsuccessful. The system must implement programs, hire counselors who care, and send foster care children out into the world with resources they can use to help them be successful in life.
I acknowledge and look up to foster care professionals for what they have done to help those who age out of the system. This includes allowing those who are aged out to complete their GED voluntarily if a shelter has a place willing to keep them, having seminars that allow the children to learn about the resources available to them, and allowing teens who turn 17-and-a-half to work with landlords who will accept their vouchers.
Having programs, specifically programs that will walk kids step by step on how to fill out applications for college and financial aid, how to improve their credit score in order to find housing easier, and having a program that helps them know how to dress and present yourself, are things the state's system can do to help increase the rate of those who come out the system and are successful.
In addition to programs, counselors play a big role. The system has counselors who help the children and give them someone to talk to, but they need more counselors who care and will invest their time and full attention on that child (although they do have other clients to deal with).
There are many resources that the system offers children who age out or come close to aging out, but the rates of unsuccessful kids out of the system manages to stay very high. This is when you ask yourself why is that?
Sydnee Lee stated, “At age 19, only 30% had completed their high school or equivalent diploma, only 47% were employed, 8% were already parents and 7% had been incarcerated.” This is when the system needs to take action and make sure they are following up with the child every so often so they know that the young person is stable, and they can also sit down with the kid and fill out forms and applications with the child.