Aging Out Can No Longer be at 18

I have not been very good about writing lately. (S) has not been sleeping at all and as a result, neither are we. It makes for little ambition during the course of the day.

We have seen some improvements, but they are very slow. Almost at a snail's pace. On the bright side, she is still a cheery and wonderful child to have around the house and she does make us laugh at least once or twice every day.

I came across this editorial from a Pennsylvania newspaper this weekend. It is right on and in support of additional assistance for children "aging out" of the foster care system. I have mentioned this problem several times ehre and while there are many states that have some kind of a program in place, they are not always comprehensive and there are still many states that have nothing for these children that reach age 18.

There is one line in this editorial by Jeanette Krebs that really sums it up best:

"It is a sad commentary that kids who have been abused or neglected by no fault of their own wind up with little or no support when they become young adults."

You can check out the entire editorial here:

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2009/04/tough_future_for_teens_aging_o.html

Eda LaShan, author and psychologist is quoted as saying:

"Becoming responsible adults is no longer a matter of whether children hang up there pajamas or put dirty towels in the hamper, but whether they care about themselves and others"

How can we expect them to care about themselves or others if we toss them out at 18 and just say "Good Luck"?