ALASKA
Problems of foster care youths made public
On Oct. 30, approximately 25 people congregated on a cool sunny afternoon at the corner of 4th and Cordova. It looked like a political protest, but rather than supporting or putting down candidates, the attendees were holding signs and banners with slogans to promote visibility and instigate a social dialogue regarding foster youths in Alaska, a group of people underrepresented and often overlooked.
"How are you going to change the world, if you can't talk about it?" Alaska House Representative Les Gara said. Gara, who himself grew up in foster care, only experienced being placed in two homes, and found the overall experience a positive one. That is not the case for many foster youths. Often they will be yanked from home to home, having to change schools each time, which puts them at an educational disadvantage.
The rally was held by Facing Foster Care in Alaska, a group comprised of foster youths and alumni that work to make improvements to the foster system. The FFCA is an advocate for change, as well as a place for youths and young adults to connect with others in the foster system.
"At first I didn't want to [join FFCA]," foster youth Fherron Hines said. "But then I realized it was a really big support group." Hines has been through seven foster homes so far. The first one was an emergency foster home in Eagle River. Hines said her biggest struggle is keeping in touch with her siblings. They were all separated when they were put into foster care.
In 2003, foster alumni Amanda Metivier met with a dedicated group of other foster youths to create a youth advisory board. She is now the president of FFCA. She plans events, recruits new members and checks in on foster families. Metivier, 24, said that it is important for FFCA to be comprised of foster youths and alumni. "They're experts about what needs to be improved."
There are to date approximately 2,200 foster youths and children in the state of Alaska. One thousand of them live in Anchorage.
Metivier said that among the most important issues regarding foster youths are the challenges they will face when they become alumni: education and homelessness. "Currently the state of Alaska allows foster youths to extend their state custody to the age of 20,"Metivier said. She said the extension isn't enough to brace young people for the reality of severe independence. "About 38 percent of foster alumni become homeless in this state," Metivier said.
Metivier also said education is another problem foster youths face. Not only are they often moved around in secondary schools, but also when they become independent, they have little or no means to pay for a college education. Approximately 17 percent of foster alumni seek higher education, but only one percent graduate with a four-year degree or certificate.
Currently, the state of Alaska offers 10 Presidential Tuition Wavers per year to foster youths eligible for the Office of Children's Independent Living Program.
"I was lucky," Metivier said. "I found a lot of support from my foster family [and FFCA]." Metivier is currently a senior majoring in social work at UAA. She is now a foster parent to an 18-year old foster youth who is also attending UAA.
Kristen Hamilton
7 October 2008
For link click HERE
