§>m Jo^cJIeiTurii Neius
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2

Another view

It takes a vUktge to helpfoster youths become successfuladults
By Jim Beall
One of the highest callings in life is
to care for children. It is instinctual

for parents and the moral responsibilily of a community. Even as kids
grow up and come of age, they bene
fit from our love and support as they
make the transition into their young
adult lives.

As parents, we plan ahead for our

children's future and work hard to

help them in evei-y way we can. We
• remain by their side; share the ex
citement of their prospects, the

tional traumOi have educational defi

in these challenging positions.
We will continue to facilitate job
placement for emancipating youths
own. Studies indicate that a signifi through a newly created employ
cant number of these young adults, ment unit that will prepare these
end up back in more expensive sys young adults by providing job-place
tems of care, such as jail and.wel
ment oijportunities, rSsumb prepa
fare, after they emancipate. The sta ration, interviewing skills and job
tistics are alarming:
counseling.
B 46 percent do not complete high
Additionally, the Board of Super
ciencies and do not have the finan
cial resources to survive on their

school.

fl 51 percent are unemployed.
H 40 percent are on public assis

tance.

frustration of their ob

stacles and the pursuit

.oftheir dreams.
For

thousands

of

Santa Clara County
youths, life is not so

kind. They are the
children of the com

visors has dedicated $318,000 to as

sist youths with housing costs and

reduce
homelessness.
Eligible
emancipated youths will be able to
apply for rent assis
tance beginning late

Stufdies indicate that a significant number of these
young adults who at 18 years old "age out of the
system" end up in more expensive systems of care,such
as jail and welfare, after they emancipate.

munity who have no parents. They
are the foster youths who become
wards of the community after abuse
and/Or severe neglect have been
substantiated by dependency court.
The removal of a child froth his or

her family is one of the most trau
matic experiences that a child can
endure, regardless of the circum
stances. Sadly, this trauma is often
experienced . again when foster
youths turn 18, "age out of the sys
tem," and are no longer eligible for
programs and financial assistance.
For some reason, society aban

dons them at this critical point in

their young and fragile lives. They
are expected to provide an adequate
life for themselves despite the fact
that many are suffering from emoJIM BEALL(jini.beali@bQssccgov.org)is cfiair

of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

He wrote this article for the Mercury News.

B Up to 40 percent are homeless.

B 20 percent are incarcerated. .

No wonder they disproportionate
ly fail. They often move from foster
care to the streets,.unemployed or

homeless, with little hope.'They step
out into a highly competitive and
mostly indifferent world with no

where to turn. This situation must

change.

When I became chair of the Santa

Clara County Board of Supervisors
in January, I called on my colleagues
to support a program for emancipat
ing foster youths. The board unani
mously agreed to create the Foster
Youth Employment Task Force — a
group that met, analyzed the needs
and established goals to support the
some 130 youths who emancipate
from our foster care system every
year. The count}' also stepped up to
the plate and hired several qualified
foster youths to fill temporary entrylevel jobs. They are performing well

Editorial board

George Riggs, president and

publisher

summer. It is much

less expensive to help,
them find stable hous

ing and launch a ca
reer

than

to

have

them end up homeless
or in and out of our county jail.
The county also is collaborating
with community partners and phi
lanthropists to launch the California
"Connected by 25" initiative, which
will provide basic life skills, includ
ing financial guidance, educational
counseling and employment train
ing programs. We aim to create an
array of sei-vices to prepare youths
as they make the transition from
foster care to living successful, inde
pendent and productive lives.
The county is partnering with lo
cal workforce investment boards,
community colleges, school districts
and employers. Our goals are clear.
We need more employers to hire and
mentor these young people and
community colleges and universities
to contribute scholarships. They are
talented. Their potential is vast.
They deserve the support of our en
tire community. Let's help them be
come successful adults.

Stephen E. Wright,editorial page
editor and vice president

RICKNEASE-OETROJT PREE PRES?

Uarbara Marslunaii,associate
editor

Ed Ciendanlel,editorial writer
John Fcnstcrwald,editorial writer

Tom Mangan,.copy editor, desigi

Copyrighted material reprinted with permission. For educational use only.

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