Each state is responsible for their foster children, am I understanding this right?

Looney Tunes

This is a very interesting question. Let me first present some facts:

1) Only 50 percent of foster kids graduate from high school or get their GED
2) Between 10-13 percent actually goto college
3) Only 2-3 percent actually graduate college

Most states do not have legislation or regulations to help foster youth attend college. Foster kids can apply for Pell Grants, which is the only form of financial aid that does not have to be re-paid. Otherwise, they can apply for Stafford Loans, which have to be repaid.

The problem is is that most kids don't recognize that they need to check "ward of the state" or "orphan" and therefore might not qualify for enough aid. The forms can be overwhelming to a child with no support or help to fill them out.

Some states have special programs for the state schools. So for example, if you were a foster kid in Massachusetts, there are tuition waivers available for foster kids.

Honestly, money is half the battle. The BIGGEST battle for college kids is the lack of support and caring as they transition from being a foster kid to a college student. They have no-one. Where do they go during holidays? Many live in their cars waiting for the dorms to re-open. They have very little emotional support. At 18, most kids are not ready to be on their own; but yet we insist on putting foster kids out.

There is money for foster kids. Some states are more supportative than others. And there is also an on-line support system for foster kids who are in college and need support...But it is NOT ENOUGH.

==========

Now, to mommy2sq... "you already paid to raise these foster children who are not mine..."

Well, I guess I should say thank you then, because you did SUCH a GREAT job raising me. I had lots of happy experiences in the Foster Care system. I was treated like a human being, I was loved and cared about. My life was wonderful thanks to people like you who paid to raise me. Everyday I am so happy to be alive.

YOU ARE EXACTLY WHY KIDS TODAY ARE STILL LIVING IN A TERRIBLE SYSTEM. ....EXACTLY that thinking. "It is nobody's elses problem... " Right?

IT IS NOT THE KID'S FAULT. They never made that choice to be in Foster Care. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO PUNISH THEM.

Wake up lady. Most bio-parents could not give you a dime. They are selfish and uncaring, but they themselves are products of the cycle of abuse and the system. I blame them as much as you do....but I DO NOT BLAME the kids.

And guess what...your money is spent more on animal shelters than on raising foster kids. What does that say?
You spend more money on wars and space shuttle flights then on foster care. And you probably spend more money on wasteful things everyday than you do on foster kids.

Thanks so much. You are a f*cking modern day hero....

Kassy

My state does pay for college tuition for children who've aged out of foster care. To qualify, students have to show good grades, contribute $500 and show that they've applied for scholarships or grants. The state will then pay for all the rest of their tuition as well as giving "financial support for all unmet needs" until they are 23.

The last time I looked into it, at least a dozen states had some sort of tuition assistance for people who've aged out.

Independ"ant"

I would rather spend my tax money on helping children that need it then billions on warfare that are killing children in the process to obtain rights to oil.

I think giving tax breaks to people that specifically want a "baby/toddler" from overseas should be discontinued. If they can't afford the going rate for their personal want then they shouldn't be adopting them from overses. Those people say its their money but I beg to differ. Look how much health insurance rates goes up and passes on to everyone else just so they can get a baby. Look at adults that choose not to have children bio/adopted and pay taxes on elementary education for everyone elses children.

It takes a village. Children in the US foster care system should be made a priority.

Gaia Raain

It should be that way, but it's not. Right now, they can apply for pell grants, just like everyone else. Considering that they have nothing, they ought to be able to get a full pell grant. And there are scholarships.

ETA: To Mommy2, you said, "I've already paid to raise these foster children who are not mine, and for their schooling though high school. When does my responsibility end?" Wow, I'm really sorry you got saddled with those kids. Total drain on the checkbook, I'm sure. Why didn't you just give the little money-grubbin' brats back so that you could keep all that money for yourself? Geez. I was under the impression that your responsibility as a parent ended the day you die. Maybe I missed something. (ETA 2: Just to clarify, I don't mean financial responsibility. That's up to the individual, and should depend on the needs of the child. What I'm talking about is that YOU made a choice to parent these kids. Your responsibility ends the day you do. If you didn't want this to be life long, you shouldn't have taken them in. I can't imagine how horrible it must feel to be dumped the day you turn 18, just because they're not legally "yours".)

BOTZ

Where I live, the state does provide some assistance with college for newly-minted adults who've "aged out" of foster care without being adopted. In fact, I worked for a time in a group home -- it was called an "independent living dorm" -- that was for girls (there was one for boys, too) who had been taken into care or disrupted from their placement at around age 15 or 16. Many of these girls worked with their caseworker(s) to live at the "dorm" rather than try to do a new placement at that age -- this was usually requested by the girl, herself, rather than the caseworker. If a girl in our dorm was there prior to turning 18, our state system actually allowed her to choose to stay (if in college and/or working) until she turned 20. I loved that system! I don't know how children can suddenly, 'magically' be expected to know how to live a fully-independent adult life simply because they had a particular birthday.

I know I needed a lot of 'help' (mostly in the form of basic information - mentoring, if you will) transitioning to completely self-sufficient adulthood. I'm glad my state provides what it does. Unfortunately, it's not a total, free college education (as I believe it should be). I'm speaking as a social worker here. I was adopted and so would not have received the free education I am advocating.

Just my opinion and experience.

ETA: Looney Tunes - you are MY hero! Very seriously! Thank you so much for keeping us all grounded. (((Looney Tunes)))

Heather B

That would be nice. Perhaps if so many tax dollars weren't doled out to people in the form of 'adoption tax credits' and handouts to the private adoption agencies of the religious right in the form of 'adoption awareness training' (LOL!) there would be more funding 'in the pot' (which everyone pays into btw) for social services like this. Society owes these kids a chance.

LaurieDB

For the person complaining of having paid for the grammar and high school education for foster children, keep in mind that since most of us pay taxes we help pay for the education for ALL children in the public school system (including yours and mine if they are in public schools,) not just those in foster care.

At any rate, parents are not financially responsible for their children beyond 18 or high school. They are not required to provide a college education, so the state should not be required to so do, either. All students can apply for financial aid, including Pell grants. Such financial aid is awarded in part based on of how much the student's family can afford to contribute. If the parents of the student had their parental rights terminated, that student no longer has a legal family. Therefore, the "family contribution" would be $0. This would help them be eligible for higher grant funding than those who do have families.

Should a former foster child's parents be responsible? If the parents' parental rights have been legally terminated, certainly not. That termination means the parents no longer have the legal rights or responsibilities of parent-child relationships with regard to that former foster child.

Does this mean I would be against the state helping former foster children to get on their feet and get started in college? No, I am certainly not against it. These kids have had disadvantages placed on them, and the state took control. I just do not believe it to be required of the state anymore than any it is required of any parent or guardian.

Dayle

I know that Texas, Florida and Arizona provide free college for teens that have aged out of the system, there might be more states now. I think it is a excellent program.

r s

every state had some federally mandated transition program and it varies from state to state... It is called Chaffee or something like that..

In Virginia they will pay for community college, but the young adult still has to come up with housing and food. Actually, if your parents claim you on taxes, they can be required to pay for your college education (if they have paid for other children)... so it all kind of depends... I guess the big issue, and it is life long, is that no one is there to support the young adult if they fall or need help (most of us have that, some where to return to and eat Thanksgiving)

but, through loans, paying rent to my parents, at times paying room and board at college, doing without medical insurance at times, I did pay my own way through college.... it can be done, especially if you live on campus...

another sad thing about the current state of USA foster care is that many of the kids are placed on psychotropic medication and been through a lot of mental health treatment, making it hard if not impossible to get into the military...

Wundt

The first answerer was correct, Texas will provide a free college education to any child who went through foster care, including those adopted out of the system. I think this is a great thing (and not just because we adopted through the Texas Foster Care system) because it provides a chance for these kids to get a life they might not of had otherwise..

The problem is that this benefit is rarely used. Most foster kids, especially those who age out of the system, do not perform well enough in high school, they drop out, they cannot afford the other expenses of college, or just are no inclined to enter college. It would be nice if the program took things a step further and helped these kids before they were college age.

Daisey Duck

Foster care is only responsible for them until they turn 18. Then they are adults, by law. After 18 it is not the states responsibility to care for them or to continue to pay for any of their care or education. As far as universities, there are only a limited amount of scholarships available. If the person has the grades then they may be eligible for one.

mommy2squee

WI has a federally funded scholarship program , in the amount of $5000, a drop in the bucket when it comes to tuition and books. It doesn't cover housing, either.

Shameful.... on the other hand, is it my responsibility to pay for college for your kids? how about my neighbor's kids? the kids across town?

I've already paid to raise these foster children who are not mine, and for their schooling though high school. When does my responsibility end?

Why aren't their parents fined to pay for their schooling?

ETA:

Gaia: I'm not talking about foster children my home- Any child raised in my home would be "my" child, even if it was only a temporary foster placement. I'm talking about kids in the system. The money to raise them comes from my tax dollars, and yours.

And they DO have parents. If they didn't have parents, they wouldn't exist. Find the parents of these kids- the deadbeat dads, the abusive/neglectful moms and fine them for the total cost of raising their child in care, then put THOSE funds toward educating that child beyond high school.

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