Something Lost in Transition for Foster Care Teens

Teens in foster care in Orange County are doing poorly when they leave the system because of a lack of transitional living programs and are a low priority compared to other county issues, according to a grand jury report released Wednesday.

When they reach 18 and leave the system, about 200 teens a year must fend for themselves with no family for financial or emotional support, said James Nolan, a grand juror.

A transitional living program is needed to help prevent many teenagers who are “aging out” of the system from “aging into” homelessness, pregnancy and unemployment, the report says.

The six-month study relied on national and state studies on foster care and also interviewed 38 former county foster teenagers. It found that within 12 to 18 months after leaving the system, half of the youths were unemployed, more than a third had not finished high school and nearly half had children even though they were not married.

“There are programs that help these teens once they are emancipated, but they’re few and far between,” Nolan said.

The study also found that housing for transitional youths is “almost nonexistent.” Several county agencies, private group homes and community organizations have responsibility for foster care, yet “no one person or agency” is ensuring that the efforts are coordinated.

To help correct the situation, the grand jury recommended that county supervisors and the county’s Social Services Agency give the problem the highest priority and create a new position of county director for transitional housing.

Other conclusions:

* A county database and information about foster youths is inadequate.

* There has been very little tracking of youths in foster care and group homes.

* The current county-run independent living program is considered “mediocre at best,” and needs more than discussion and classes. Youths should be given “hands-on” experience and assistance preparing them for independence before discharge.

Michael Riley, county director of Children and Family Services, defended the county, saying that many of the report’s findings were “taken out of context” and that the study omitted many services for youths provided by the county.

“We are in fact in the process of looking at . . . a group or body to coordinate a network of services,” Riley said. “This is not news for us. We know the problem has been there for a long time, but the issue is funding.”

Riley did not have program funding levels available.

Janine Ingram, YWCA executive director, said private nonprofit agencies have been trying to find ways to address the issue. Her agency was recently awarded $597,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with help from the county for a transitional living program for up to 14 young women.

“When was the grand jury’s study done? Because a lot has happened since,” she said. “For example when I wrote my grant, there were no beds available for young women. Now there are 28.”

Ingram said she believed the grand jury was “statistically supporting [what] a group of us know and are addressing.”

The YWCA’s program, which also included United Way and other private donations, will be called First Steps. It’s expected to start in April.

Riley said the county has targeted three areas for improvement: housing, transportation and educational needs for former foster care youths.

The overall foster-care problem has been a national focus and has led to a recent law, called the Foster Care Independence Act, which President Clinton signed in December. The bill provides for up to $140 million a year to state and county agencies to help children make the jump from foster care to self-sufficiency.