Capitol Event Focuses on Needs of California's Children and Youth in Foster Care

Country Music Star and Former Foster Youth Jimmy Wayne Headlines Event Honoring Programs that "Make a Difference"

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Casey Family Programs:

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Hundreds of children, youth, families, advocates and child welfare officials gathered today on the steps of the Capitol to focus public attention on the needs of foster youth as statewide efforts got underway for this year's National Foster Care Month. The event honored programs that are making a difference in the lives of foster youth, and included the release of new state data that reveals the challenging circumstance faced by youth who are not reunited or connected to a safe, permanent family before "aging out" of care at age 18.

Headlining the event was country music star and former foster youth Jimmy Wayne, who is completing a 1700-mile walk from Nashville to Phoenix to raise awareness of foster youth needs. Wayne, homeless and in and out of foster homes as a teen, widely credits one of the families with whom he lived as helping to turn his life around.

"The main thing that allowed me to focus on my music was the fact that I had a home," says Wayne. "I had a foundation, a launching pad – someone that allowed me to do that.  It's hard to focus when you are shuffling from home to home."  

New data from the California Department of Social Services – available for the first time – indicates that the state's youth face daunting challenges as they "age out" of foster care at age 18. Statewide data shows:

• Less than half (49.5%) of foster youth exit care with a high school diploma.
• Only 29% of youth have employment when leaving care, and overwhelmingly most of those jobs are part-time minimum wage jobs.
• Only 15% of youth live in some kind of supportive transitional housing.
• Nearly 10% of youth have no means of financial support at all.

While most of the data suggests foster youth will face major challenges as they transition into adulthood, one otherwise bright spot in the data is youths' access to health care services. Recent policy changes requiring Medi-Cal services to automatically be made available to youth until they turn 21, account for universal health care coverage for youth as they transition out of care.

Related research studies, including one that focused on foster youth in Los Angeles, have tracked youth after they leave care. California's statewide data is similar to those findings for youth at age 18 and signal serious future challenges for foster youth, including high levels of homelessness, unemployment and incarceration.

"All children and youth need a safety net," said Frank Mecca, Executive Director of the County Welfare Directors Association. "The most fundamental part of that safety net for foster children and youth is a permanent home – a family – someone for whom they can count on for a lifetime. We need to make sure someone is there for foster kids the same way we are there for our own children."

The Capitol event honored programs that are helping to better support youth, and included those that focus on connecting foster youth with their siblings and families, high school graduation and educational success, housing stability and redirecting foster youth who have entered the state's juvenile justice system. Programs included the Courageous Connections program in Sacramento, Family Ties program in Monterey and the Incarceration to Success program in Salinas.  

Honored posthumously was longtime legislative staffer Julianne Huerta for her work to support foster youth. Huerta, who died at 39 after a 5-year battle with cancer, was honored by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assemblyman Roger Niello who have established a special endowment in Huerta's honor to help foster youth continue their education.

"Julianne knew, as we do, that programs like these are vital to foster youth. We know what works -- our challenge is to identify dedicated support that ensures youth have the help they need and deserve. It is what Julianne strived for in her career and what we will continue to do in her name," said Niello.

Officials noted that these and other innovative programs are especially relevant as the state implements the landmark Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, recently passed by Congress. John Wagner, Director of the California Department of Social Services noted, "Helping foster youth develop permanent connections with caring adults is central to their success in school and in life."

The Fostering Connections Act provides new resources for helping foster youth and the families who care for them, incentives and supports to promote permanent families and increase placement stability and family connections, and matching funds to continue foster care services for youth until age 21.

California has more than 65,000 children and youth in foster care, including approximately 5,500 who "age out" of care each year without either reuniting with their birth family or finding another safe, permanent family or adult they can rely upon for guidance and support.

Additional Foster Care Month events in Sacramento this week include a reception honoring Assembly Member and Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass for her advocacy of foster youth, a statewide convening of child welfare professionals and former and current foster youth working to transform programs that prepare foster youth for adulthood, a walk-a-thon to the State Capitol, Legislative and Gubernatorial Foster Care Month resolutions, an adoption and foster care information event, and exhibits and displays on the Governor's Wall and in the Capitol Rotunda featuring artwork by foster youth that expresses their feelings about love and belonging and the impact of the Fostering Connections to Success Act.

The public can learn more about supporting foster youth at www.fostercaremonth.org.

SOURCE Casey Family Programs