Kansas
Kansas is taking a nationally unprecedented move to let foster teens pick their families
TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas would be the first state to let foster youngsters decide their foster mother and father. The purpose of the one-of-a-kind program is to let older foster youngsters create sturdy connections that might assist them as they age out of the state’s care.
Foster youngsters can discover everlasting houses both by way of adoption, being reunited with household or guardianship, however this new possibility offers foster youth extra say.
Foster youngsters age 16 and older would be capable of decide as much as two adults to function their authorized, everlasting household. These folks might embrace caregivers or folks near the kid.
“It could be an unprecedented change,” mentioned Scott Henricks, director of permanency on the Kansas Division for Kids and Households. “It could be a change of route on actually how the system works.”
This program doesn’t lower ties with youngsters’s organic mother and father not like different placement choices, Henricks mentioned.
It’s designed to attach youth with a powerful help system that’ll assist them from teenage years to early maturity. It additionally acknowledges that household is not only about who you’re associated to, Henricks mentioned.
DCF couldn’t but say how folks might be eligible to turn out to be these guardians.
The Annie E. Casey Basis estimates 20,000 folks age out of foster care annually with no everlasting household supporting them, and people youngsters need assistance discovering steady housing, getting a job or ending school.
“Simply think about in the event you or I did not have anybody at that age,” Henricks mentioned. “All of us want these helps. All of us want some connections and this might legally acknowledge that.”
The Annie E. Casey Basis chosen Kansas as the primary state to launch this program due to its “lively and strong Kansas Youth Advisory Council” and dedication to increasing placement choices for older youngsters.
Patricia Duh, a permanency guide for SOUL Family, mentioned in a weblog put up saying the partnership that some youngsters’s wants simply aren’t met with the present choices.
Duh was liable for her primary wants as soon as her time in prolonged foster care ran out, and he or she mentioned having a program like SOUL would have made it simpler to turn out to be self-sufficient.
“There isn’t any one shoe, one measurement, that matches all youth once they age out,” Duh mentioned. “We have now to start to develop different choices.”
It isn’t clear when this program might begin as a result of particulars about it nonetheless must be found out. State regulation additionally must be up to date to replicate the brand new placement possibility. The state Legislature continues to be technically in session, however any payments on the subject would possible wait till the 2023 session to be thought of.
Henricks is worked up by the change as a result of he mentioned too many youngsters are growing old out of Kansas foster care with no help system to assist them succeed as adults. In March, 583 youngsters are about to age out of care with not one of the different placement choices accessible.
Letting an individual decide their foster mum or dad lets them make an essential selection that might impression their lives for years.
“That would actually change the trajectory of a teen’s life,” Henricks mentioned. “However extra so, it would legally acknowledge their very own voice.”
Blaise Mesa studies on felony justice and social companies for the Kansas Information Service in Topeka. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or electronic mail him at blaise@kcur.org.
The Kansas Information Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and Excessive Plains Public Radio targeted on well being, the social determinants of well being and their connection to public coverage.
Kansas Information Service tales and photographs could also be republished by information media for free of charge with correct attribution and a hyperlink to ksnewsservice.org.