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Is There A Link Between Foster Care and Homelessness?
Jordan Greenberg
August 31, 2023
Happy Thursday,
I’m lucky to have a number of good friends in my community who are dads. One is expecting the birth of his first daughter this week, one is early in pregnancy, and the other is a pro with three kids.
Yesterday we all met up for a bike ride, and one of the most notable messages I took away from our conversation was that while summer is a great opportunity to spend time with your kids, it can also be a time where anxiety builds. It’s easy to get out of your professional routine when you have kids 24/7. Sending the kids back to school almost feels like a breath of fresh air and as though a cloud of angst over the household cleared out.
While spending time with your kids is amazing, it’s important to be able to feel like you still have time for yourself, and routines are a good way to do so.
What do you think? Is sending kids back to school a breath of fresh air even though you miss the fun summer memories? Let me know!
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One Big Idea
A recent class-action lawsuit filed against Los Angeles County exposes a glaring issue that can no longer be ignored: the systemic failures in providing adequate support to transition-age foster youths. These young people are supposed to be aided by extended foster care services that prepare them for adult responsibilities like education, housing, and employment. Instead, they find themselves navigating a treacherous system that exacerbates their existing traumas. Whether it's abrupt expulsions from housing programs for trivial reasons or the complete absence of support systems, these shortcomings not only neglect the immediate needs of the child but also set them on a path fraught with risks like homelessness, physical violence, and mental health challenges.
Moreover, the lawsuit highlights that this isn't just an issue of inadequate housing but a multidimensional failure encompassing mental health services, educational support, and job preparedness. In essence, the system, designed to be a safety net, has gaping holes. As the suit reveals, navigating the intricacies of housing and mental health services is arduous even without the added burden of instability and neglect. When the agencies meant to protect these youths are, in fact, contributing to their struggles, it's evident that a comprehensive reform is overdue.
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It was time to finally acknowledge that becoming a parent had changed me, and that was OK. Part of me felt disappointed for not being the woman I thought I was supposed to be, but mostly I was annoyed that it took deboarding an international flight and wasting $340 dollars in hotel fees for me to accept my identity as a mother.
~ Samantha Mann
