[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 62 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       WE MUST IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN LEAVING FOSTER CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2005

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, the circumstances 
described in the following report from Monday's National Public Radio 
program clearly indicates the urgent need to overhaul the child welfare 
system in order to improve outcomes for children aging out of foster 
care.
  A recent study by Harvard Medical School and Casey Family Programs 
measured some of the aftereffects of foster care. That study concluded 
that fewer than 27 percent of foster youth who graduated high school 
went on to college as compared to 52 percent of the general population. 
And for those who do begin college, the dropout rate for foster youth 
is extremely high. More than eighty percent of all foster care youth 
who enroll in college will drop out before graduation.
  In addition to lack of funds and the inability to access the limited 
federal and state funds that are available, foster youth suffer other 
unique disadvantages. While other students are concerned with academic 
pressures, foster care youth are worried about housing and being alone 
during holidays and breaks when dormitories are closed.
  Next week I will propose legislation to address the shortcomings of 
the child welfare system by improving outcomes for children leaving 
foster care by awarding grants to colleges and universities to recruit 
foster care students; provide academic counseling; provide financial 
aid counseling; and provide other appropriate supportive educational 
services.
  The article follows:

             [From the Minnesota Public Radio, May 9, 2005]

 Foster-Care System Often Ends Up Hurting The Kids It Was Designed To 
                                Protect

                           (By Hilary Wicai)

       May is National Foster Care Month. The foster-care system 
     was created to care for children who are abused or neglected 
     or whose parents can't care for them, but a recent study of 
     former foster-care kids finds many end up hurt by the 
     system that was supposed to protect them, and once they 
     turn 18, they're on their own, often without the skills 
     they need to fend for themselves. The damage takes both an 
     emotional and an economic toll as MARKETPLACE's Hilary 
     Wicai reports from the work and family desk.
       Jessica Lindsay was 14 when a couple of police officers 
     pulled her out of class.
       Ms. JESSICA LINDSAY (Former Foster Child): My mother is--
     she's a schizophrenic, and she's been that way my whole life.
       WICAI: Jessica and her mother had a bad fight the day 
     before and the police told Jessica she couldn't go home again 
     ever.
       Ms. LINDSAY: `Well, why can't I go home?' `Well, your 
     mother threatened to kill you, so we have to remove you from 
     the home.'
       WICAI: That began Jessica's three-year journey through 
     three social workers, two foster families, four group homes 
     and four high schools. Moving around a lot is part of the 
     system. If kids are in care for four years or more, 37 moves 
     are the median.
       Ms. MARIAN HERRICK (Former Foster Child): I mean, I have 
     another friend who's lived in over 45 homes when she was in 
     foster care. Yeah.
       WICAI: Marian Herrick spent seven years in foster care 
     after her dad went to prison. Herrick says many don't know 
     what foster children go through because they learn not to 
     tell their stories. Her best friend in middle school taught 
     her that.
       Ms. HERRICK: Her mom told her that she needed to find a 
     normal friend because I was in foster care. So it's like 
     there's definitely that stigma. Just answering the most basic 
     questions are difficult, like, `Where are you from?' `Well, 
     I'm not really from any one city.'
       WICAI: Foster children aren't from any one city in large 
     part because the system is out of balance. There are only 
     about a hundred thousand foster families for 600,000 children 
     in care. That's why many, especially teen-agers like Jessica 
     Lindsay, end up in group homes where they're looked after by 
     low-wage shift workers. Care in a group home can cost 
     taxpayers nearly 10 times more than family foster care. At 
     one group home, Jessica had trouble sleeping. The doctor put 
     her on sleeping pills which made her sleep through class but 
     she took them.
       Ms. LINDSAY: If you don't comply with what they tell you to 
     do, you can't get any of your rewards that you're supposed to 
     get, like going outside. They reward you for good behavior, 
     but you're not a criminal. You're here because something 
     happened to you, not because you did something.
       WICAI: A recent study showed post-traumatic stress disorder 
     rates among foster-care alumni are almost twice as high as in 
     US veterans of war. The study by Harvard Medical School and 
     Casey Family Programs measured some of the aftereffects of 
     foster care. Ruth Massinga is president of Casey. She says 
     the picture is grim for young adults now out of care.
       Ms. RUTH MASSINGA (President, Casey Family Programs): Only 
     80 percent of the study participants were employed as 
     compared to 95 percent of the general population. One-third 
     of the participants had incomes at or below the poverty 
     level. One-third had no health insurance, and nearly a 
     quarter had experienced homelessness after leaving foster 
     care.
       Mr. GARY STANGLER (Co-author, ``On Their Own''): At 18, we 
     say, `Happy birthday. You're on your own.'
       WICAI: Gary Stangler used to run Missouri's foster-care 
     system. He recently co-authored a book called ``On Their 
     Own.''
       Mr. STANGLER: There are literally places in the country 
     where young people are emancipated from foster care and they 
     are delivered to a homeless shelter.
       WICAI: He says there's nothing magic about turning 18 if 
     you're undereducated, lack job skills and have nowhere to go. 
     He says as they're shuffled around, many foster kids don't 
     learn anything about paying bills, finding an apartment, 
     filing taxes, even tying a tie for a job interview. Now 19, 
     Jessica Lindsay has her own apartment in Michigan but only 
     after a couple of false starts with college and financial 
     aid.
       Ms. LINDSAY: This is what I needed and this is what I got, 
     and now look at what I have to deal with.
       WICAI: So she works full time, seeing that other foster 
     youth get a better start.
       Unidentified Woman: Clap once if you can hear me!
       WICAI: She was recently accepted to the Child Welfare 
     League of America's National Foster Youth Advisory Council. 
     The group advocates and lobbies for better foster-care 
     policies.
       Unidentified Woman: . . . worked so hard we've already put 
     in a seven-hour day with . . .
       WICAI: This month, they met in Washington, DC, to discuss 
     how to promote the idea of more permanent placements for 
     foster children. With groups like this behind her, Jessica is 
     more hopeful that her third attempt at college will be more 
     successful. Jessica's goal is to graduate. That would help 
     increase the number of foster-care alumni with bachelor's 
     degrees. Right now, it's only 2 percent.

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