Supporting Youth in Their Transition From Foster Care

There are a lot of children in the foster care system who are getting ready to transition to adulthood. It is important to make sure they have the resources necessary to make the transition smoothly. Even though foster care can have a significant impact on the development of a teenager and young adult, the ultimate transition out of foster care to adulthood can have challenges for some people. It is critical to listen to experts, such as Dr. Candice Matthews, formerly known as Dr. Candice Enecio-Hinton, who can make sure children in foster care have the necessary resources as they make the transition.

Help Children Find Housing

One of the most important tips that everyone working in the foster care system has to keep in mind is that they must help children aging out of the foster care system find housing. According to Dr. Candice Matthews, homelessness is a significant problem among people with a history that has been spent in the foster care system. When children can no longer live in foster care, they often struggle, wondering where they are going to go at night. There are resources available that can help children find housing even after they age out of the foster care system, but this is a process that should begin well before they age out.

Provide Resources for Employment Opportunities

It is also critical to provide them with resources that can help them find employment opportunities. Without a job, children who age out of the foster care system will have a difficult time supporting themselves. Even though there are plenty of jobs available, there are obstacles to overcome when children from foster care are looking for employment. Dr. Candice Matthews believes that it is important for authority figures to help children leaving the foster care system find job opportunities.

Encourage Them To Become a Mentor

Finally, it can also be beneficial to encourage children leaving the foster care system to become mentors. Many children leaving foster care want to maintain some sort of connection with the foster care system because they are comfortable with it and feel an intimate connection to it. One of the best ways to do so is to encourage them to give back to the system by becoming a mentor for other children. In a lot of cases, children leaving the foster care system have strong connections with children who are still there. As a result, the transition to becoming a mentor can be a natural one.

Aging Out of the Foster Care System

Even though the transition from foster care to adulthood can be a challenge, this is not something that children have to go through on their own. Furthermore, foster care centers must make sure they provide their children with the support necessary during a challenging time. If children have the necessary resources, they can be put in a position to succeed. Even though children who age out of the foster care system may no longer be living with other children, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they need to feel alone. If people who age out of foster care continue to feel supported, they can become productive members of society.