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New law allows Vt. children to stay in foster care past 18
New law allows Vt. children to stay in foster care past 18
LISA RATHKE, Associated Press Writer Article Launched: 07/07/2007 02:55:23 AM EDT http://www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_6319346 Saturday, July 7 MONTPELIER — Months after leaving her foster family, 17-year-old Kellie Coakley got pregnant. Later, she ended up spending eight months in jail. Looking back, she says, her life may have taken a different turn if she'd had the possibility of staying in foster care after her 18th birthday. "I probably would not have had a baby ... I wouldn't haven't gotten knocked up," she said. "I would have focused more on school." Now, Vermont officials are hoping a change in state law will help make the road to adulthood less bumpy for teens in foster care. Starting this month, they can remain in foster care until they're 22. Change the message "The big thing it does is allows us to change all the messages that we give kids who find themselves in the foster care system," said Steve Dale, commissioner of the Department for Children and Families. "There's been a lot of focus on the 18th birthday for a number of years. Foster parents assume that kids are going to move out. Kids think they are going to be free of these rules ... when, in fact, that's not what we do with our (own) kids. Most kids still spend a lot of time at home. If they go to Advertisement school, they come back on vacation. If they have problems, they spend some time at home. "Our hope is that their experience is like every other kid who is going through the process of transitioning out," Dale said. Children's advocates say the change is long overdue. They point to prison populations as an indication that Vermont needs to do more for kids in its care. A three-year study concluded in 2001 found that 36 percent of Vermont prison inmates had once been in foster care. "To me, that was an indicting statistic," said Mark Redmond, executive director of Spectrum Youth & Family Services in Burlington. Connecticut funds foster care through age 23. New York extends it to 21. But Vermont's cut off age had been 18, which Redmond and others believe set the stage for failure for many. Vermont is now one of nine states that now funds foster care past 18, although legislation is pending in other states, said Joyce Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Child Welfare League in Arlington, Va. Don't be surprised Some teens have a high school diploma but most lack job skills. "And you're letting go at 18? Don't be surprised if they end of up in jail... you're giving them a one-way ticket," Redmond said. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. has introduced legislation that would provide federal funding to states to continue foster care through age 21. "We think it's great, because so many kids are not prepared," said Johnson. "Even kids in families aren't necessarily ready to leave the nest when they turn 18, so we think it's very important," she said, referring to that bill. Starting July 1, Vermont teens have the option of remaining in foster care until they turn 22, provided they are going to school, working or getting some type of training. The law also allows them to re-enter foster care after leaving. About 60 teens are expected to take advantage of the new law this year, at a cost of roughly $700,000 in reimbursements to foster families, Dale said. The expectation is that the program will grow. In three years, Dale estimates, 120 foster care children will stay on — at a cost of $1.2 million. Looking back, Coakley says she wasn't ready to be on her own at 18. "You kind of get cut off. You look at kids growing up with parents. I guess stability is important for everybody," she says. Now 23, working and in college while she shares custody of her son with the boy's father, she advocates for other kids as president of the state's youth development committee, which meets monthly to discuss issues facing those in foster care. "I think the more support that kids can get during that age, the better," she said. Copyright © 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAM.... CPS Does not protect children... It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even killed at the hands of Child Protective Services. every parent should read this .pdf from connecticut dcf watch... http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US These numbers come from The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN) Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS *Perpetrators of Maltreatment* Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59 Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13 Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241 Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12 Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5 Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per 100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a bunch of social workers. BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION... |
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