Former foster kids recount hardships in public hearing

February 16, 2009

OLYMPIA – For foster kids, turning 18 is no cause for celebration. It is the age when most of them are dropped from the state’s foster care system and left to fend for themselves.

The House Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee heard personal accounts last week from young adults who were literally forced into homelessness and had nowhere to turn once they aged out of foster care. They came to Olympia to share their stories and persuade legislators to vote House Bill 1961 out of committee before next week’s cutoff deadline.

House Bill 1961 would enable some foster youth age 18-21 to continue to remain in foster care. It is sponsored by Rep. Mary Helen Roberts (D – Lynnwood), who each year champions legislation to help improve the lives of the state’s approximately 10,000 foster kids. In 2007, Roberts sponsored a bill that enabled foster youth to keep their state-provided medical coverage through age 21.

“Many young adults continue to live at home, with their parents, after their 18th birthday,” Roberts said. “But foster kids have no home, and no parents. They reach an important milestone in their lives, and have their entire support network yanked out from under them.”

Several alumni of foster care testified that after aging out of the system, they didn’t even have a place to sleep at night. One young woman who had to sleep on the streets said she stayed awake all night out of fear for her safety.

A little bit more foster care can go a long way. Roberts’ motivation for HB 1961 comes partially from data that is available about foster youth outcomes.

“Even if foster youth have only one year of college, they still end up better off than those who have none,” Roberts said. “These are issues that can make a difference in whether or not a person succeeds in life.”

The Committee also heard testimony on a bill that would allow continued post-adoption contact among siblings who are not adopted together out of foster care. Supporters testified that for foster kids, siblings are often the only constant in their lives. Roberts is also the prime sponsor of the measure, House Bill 1938.

“As the parent of twin daughters, I cannot imagine the pain they would feel if they were cut off from each other, not knowing where the other was or how to find her,” Roberts said.

Executive action on both bills is expected before the February 20 cutoff deadline. Both bills are expected to pass out of committee.