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Tyee Poll: What’s the Cost of Failing to Support Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Beyond Age 19?

Every year in British Columbia, approximately 1,000 youth ‘age out’ of foster care. Many are thrown into adult life before finishing high school, with no one to turn to for help in their twenties.

In B.C., about 40 per cent of homeless youth have some history in the child welfare system, and fewer than 35 per cent of youth in care have graduated high school by the time they age out of care at 19.

In short, they are left to face the journey to adulthood alone. This is not how we treat our own kids in B.C. Research shows 92 per cent of parents in the province provide their children aged 19 to 28 with a range of financial, social, and emotional supports.

Guess the total cost of the adverse outcomes (e.g. healthcare, social services, personal loss) associated with 1,000 youth per year in BC aging out of foster care at 19?

Correct Answer: A new Vancouver Foundation study released this week finds the total cost of adverse outcomes associated with youth aging out of foster care at 19 is between $222-$268 million dollars.

Here's what Tyee readers thought:

How much financial support for things like housing, food and transportation do you think should be provided for youth who age out of foster care, until age 25?

Fostering Change believes that young people leaving foster care should be confident they have at least three things to count on until age 25.

1. Consistent financial support with basic living costs like housing, transit, and food while they attend school, learn skills, and find work.
2. Long-term relationships with caring dependable adults for support, advice, and references, so that they always have somewhere to turn.
3. A chance to connect and contribute to their communities through creative, cultural, and volunteer activities, so that they feel like they belong.

Here are a couple of things you can do right now to support youth aging out of foster care.

Sign the petition to show young people leaving care that you stand with them.
• Share this poll on social media or by email (tools at top of the page)
• Share the Fostering Change petition via Facebook to help spread the word about this issue.

Fill out this week's poll.