Findings Highlight "Aging Out" Issue

LITTLE ROCK - A report was released on Tuesday by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a non-profit child advocacy organization, which highlights a growing problem in Arkansas's foster care system - the significant number of children that "age out," or turn 18 and leave the system, without ever finding a permanent home.

In 2006 alone, over 200 children aged out of the system, and with similar numbers aging out each year, the numbers add up. Over the past five years, nearly 1,000 kids left the system without ever finding a permanent home or the stability and guidance that such an environment can provide. Also of note, African-American children, though accounting for only 20% of the state's population under 18, represented 35% of the children aging out.

"There's no silver bullet to this problem," said Jennifer Ferguson, Legal Director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and author of "Finding a Family for a Lifetime: Aging Out of the Foster Care System." "There will always be a certain number of children who age out each year. However, we can ensure that the system is doing everything possible to find permanent homes for these children, from earnestly trying to connect these children with relatives or mentors to finding more potential foster and adoptive homes."

According to the report, aging out of the system leads to further complications once these children begin living on their own. The report finds that they are more likely to experience a number of problems, ranging from unplanned pregnancy and homelessness, to criminal activity. One possible solution to this problem is an increased emphasis on providing them with the necessary skills to live independently, as well as providing a support system for them once they have left.

"Many of these children lack the basic life skills they need to live independently," said Ferguson. "Whether it is cooking a meal or opening a bank account, we must make this type of independent living training a priority for these kids."

The report concludes that while finding permanent homes for these children is the best solution, the chances of these children leading healthy and productive lives can be drastically increased by providing them with both the skills and support they'll need for independent living.