Editorial: All alone at age 18

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

A S enate proposal that would allow states to extend foster care benefits to children until they are 21 years old has gained support from lawyers and judges who handle cases of foster children.

A story by the Associated Press on Monday reports that members of the American Bar Association back changes in foster care laws, such as legislation proposed by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., that would give states the option of allowing foster children to remain in the system an extra three years. Right now, more than 20,000 foster children a year are ejected from the system at age 18, whether they are ready to support themselves or not.

Anthony Pico, who spent 18 years of his life in foster care, told bar association members meeting in San Francisco over the weekend that he wasn't equipped to start paying his own rent and providing for all of his own needs at age 18.

In this day and age, how many 18-year-olds are ready for that responsibility? A high school diploma doesn't go as far as it once did. Few, if any, jobs that require only a high school education allow teenagers to earn enough to support themselves, let alone allow them to continue their education.

An expert from a Seattle program that serves children and families in the welfare system told AP that it is easy to predict the fate of most foster teens who are cast out at age 18, and that society "can choose to pay while they're still in our care or we will continue to pay once they leave" the system.

Most children from stable families would have a hard time making it completely on their own at 18. It seems unreasonable to expect such independence from children who have had to overcome personal hardship and may have had to adjust to life with several families. Granting these people another three years of support seems only reasonable.