Helping Foster Care Youth Enter Society

“Crashing Hard Into Adulthood” (Dec. 2) showcased the significant challenges faced by many emancipated foster youth. Missing from this story, however, was mention of the actions that are taking place to help these young adults to successfully transition from dependence.

Cal State Fullerton has created the Guardian Scholars to assist emancipated foster youth to become full participants in society. This program provides tuition, year-round housing, mentoring and academic counseling to emancipated foster youth who are accepted into the university. Yes, many foster youth are not prepared to enter society upon emancipation. However, there are those who do not accept homelessness and lifelong dependency as their lot in life. They know that education is the path to a different fate.

We as a community must do more to guide and support these overlooked members of our society. I challenge our communities to find meaningful ways to assist these remarkable young people.

Milton A. Gordon

President, Cal State Fullerton

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What has happened to trade and business classes in high schools? Not everyone is college-bound material, and all children should have a skill upon graduation to prepare them to earn a living. Emotional health and living arrangements are certainly issues that need to be addressed as well, either in classes at school or at another social agency set up for all high-risk youth.

With the amount of money we pay in taxes, surely some of it can “trickle down” to help fill the needs of our youth. Much of the Belmont Learning Complex money might have helped the children you profiled--and others.

Barbara Sommer

Los Angeles