The alternative? Do nothing and continue to live with these numbers, found by the Alaskan Foster Care Alumni Study of 2005: 77 percent of those leaving foster care are on public assistance at some time or live with someone who is; 30 percent are imprisoned; 38 percent are homeless at some time after leaving care, 30 percent within the first year. With about 2,000 Alaska children in foster care, those percentages are chilling.
And they're a lot more expensive than $715,000 a year.
Fortunately, the House Finance Committee has decided unanimously that doing nothing is a sorry alternative, and approved amendments to the state operating budget that would provide:
• $200,000 for a competitive grant to set up a statewide volunteer mentoring program for foster youth and those coming out of foster care. Rep. Les Gara, a former foster child and a longtime advocate for better care, likened this program to a Big Brothers, Big Sisters for older kids.
• $175,000 for increased job training vouchers, 10 more University of Alaska tuition waivers for foster youth (making a total of 20), television ads to recruit more foster parents and mailings about the FosterWear discount clothing plan (a private-public partnership).
• $160,500 for two new staffers to reinforce the four who handle the Office of Children's Services Independent Living Program. The program helps youngsters coming out of foster care with work, school, job training and daily living. Four staffers now have 350 kids from age 17 to 21. That's an overwhelming caseload.
• $100,000 for extended housing help when young people leave foster homes and try to live on their own. As it stands now, rental help lasts up to three months. This would give youngsters two or three months more assistance to get on their feet.
• $80,000 to provide transportation and care to keep kids who move from one foster home to another in the same school at least until the end of the current term. The instability of foster home moves is worsened by bouncing from school to school. The more stability in foster kids' lives, the better their chances for success.
Rep. Gara hasn't worked alone. On the Senate side, Bettye Davis has sponsored similar provisions. And in the House, Republicans led by Rep. Mike Hawker have joined Gara and Rep. Mike Doogan in making a solid, investment for some of the least fortunate Alaska kids. There's no substitute for a loving, stable family. There are not enough such foster families in Alaska. Placements can be tough, and some kids go from home to home and eventually leave foster care ill-prepared to make good lives for themselves. Amanda Metivier, coordinator for Facing Foster Care in Alaska, said these measures "will make a huge difference" for those leaving foster care by keeping adult support in their lives.
The Legislature should pass this good work.
BOTTOM LINE: Foster care investments can improve the prospects of Alaska kids.
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