New Foster Child Bill Designed to Help Kids Finish College

Maine will be the first state in the U.S. to have a law in place to support foster teens to complete college. Most experts agree that one of the best investments the U.S. can make is

in education. Unfortunately, many, if not most, foster kids will enter adulthood with a much lower level of education than the general youth.

Foster youth transitioning out of foster care are at significantly higher risk of unemployment, homelessness, poor educational outcomes and long-term dependency on public assistance. A University of Chicago study finds that between 12 and 36 percent of foster teens aging out of foster care experience homelessness.

Main's House Majority Leader Seth Berry said, “Morally and economically, it makes sense to help these young Mainers complete their education. Even with the best of childhoods, how many of us were fully independent at age 20? How many of us would cut off our own kids once they turn 20?”

Depending on the state, agencies spend up to $150,000 per foster child. We applaud Maine for putting forth a bill that will help ensure that more foster youth complete college so they can move forward as responsible adults and not as a drain on social services.

Regards,


  Richard

Richard Villasana
Find Families In Mexico

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