“We all need some help,” says Naylor, noting that many grown adults still get support from their parents and families.
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan, a longtime advocate for foster children, says a serious problem is how often kids are moved from home to home and, therefore, school to school. Switching schools can bring incorrect placements and credits along with the typical uncertainty of a new school, new classes and new faces.
Kline estimates that she attended at least six schools after turning 14.
The state wants to have education planners help foster children think about college, and hopes to upgrade a statewide database to reduce delays in transferring school records when those students change K-12 schools. Officials also are looking at ways to create a support system for foster youth who enroll in college.
A big concern — and a familiar one for the foster care system — is money. Michigan’s budget deficit is forcing state departments to cut spending, so there may not be support for new or expanded programs.
Udow, however, says policymakers and lawmakers must find additional resources now or watch as foster children left to fend for themselves end up in prison or on public assistance.
“We end up paying, and we end up paying much more down the road,” she says.
— Associated Press
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