The Campaign for Rhode Island’s Priorities is doing a call-in today to Senate President Montalbano’s office to protest the planned $17 million in cuts to DCYF which will reduce the age of service coverage from 21 to 18. From the press release:
Call in today to defend foster care services! Campaign for Rhode Island’s Priorities toll-free call-in hotline: 1-800-769-9219
This afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee will hear testimony about the proposed budget for the Department of Children, Youth, & Families (DCYF). This proposal includes $17 million in cuts.
The proposed cuts would end DCYF care for youth on their 18th birthday – directly impacting their housing, health care and case management services.
These cuts directly jeopardize the future of 857 youth in foster care. 500 of these youth live outside of their own families either in foster care homes, or for 200 youth ages 17 to 21, in independent living.
Call Senate President Joseph Montalbano through our hotline today!
Dial 1-800-769-9219
After you hear the recorded message, dial “0” to reach the Senate President’s office.Leave President Montalbano this message:
Investing in the people of Rhode Island demands long-term solutions, not short term fixes. We have a common obligation to our youth living in Foster Care. Stop the cuts to youth in the 2008 budget and support common-sense revenue enhancements that will protect all Rhode Islanders.
Kmareka.com 
PS. If you are interested in looking at national data about children aging out of foster care, this pdf is helpful. Particularly in the appendices, there is one that gives the statutes on age of eligibility for each state. In Texas you age out at 18, but in many other states (Mississippi, Oklahoma) you have until 21. In Florida and a few other states the age of eligibility extends to 20.
Click to access Medicaid-Access-for-Youth-Aging-Out-of-Foster-Care-Rpt.pdf
Also of interest in this report is background on the major role that John Chafee played in creating the legislation to support children aging out of foster care.
Even the conservatives who like to talk about self reliance have to recognize that an eighteen year old working for minimum wage cannot afford to pay $800 a month in rent. It’s not responsible for society to set some of the youngest citizens up to fail and call it cost-cutting. We have a mutual responsibility to youth, the same as we do the elderly, otherwise what are we? I wish the governor’s sense of morality would expand to include support for people who grew up without the protection of a family. Did the governor make it entirely on his own from the day her turned eighteen?
From a former foster child and current child advocate:
Every year, 20,000 of the 542,000 children in foster care nationwide “age out” of foster care and enter the adult world.
Most young adults in the general population rely upon their families for assistance with a place to live, financial support and other guidance as they transition to adulthood.
In fact, half of young adults ages 18-24 from “normal” families live at home with their parents, according to Children’s Rights data.
Young people in foster care have already survived harsh circumstances, such as neglect, abuse and/or abandonment.
They are then expected to leave the foster care system and transition to the adult world.
For me, this experience was like walking on a tightrope without a net. Failure wasn’t an option because I knew no one was there to catch me if I fell.
Since the 80’s, when I was in foster care, some states across the nation have recognized the importance of assisting young people aging out of the foster care system.
I am sad to learn that, in Rhode Island, Gov. Don Carcieri does not recognize the importance of making this investment.
Young people who age out of foster care unassisted are at high risk for homelessness, incarceration, unwanted pregnancies, and joblessness.
Investing in foster youth is both a matter of conscience and foresight. When the state takes children from their parents’ custody and assumes a parental role, they need to be a responsible “parent.”
Lisa
http://sunshinegirlonarainyday.blogspot.com/