Help for kids coming out of the foster system

Finding and losing history

History found Records of freed Va. slaves placed online History possibly lost (suburbanchicagonews.com) "A property once covered in unique objets d'art and so renowned even the Smithsonian Institution took notice now is slated for demolition. Kane County officials this week took further steps toward tearing down the long-abandoned African-American Heritage Museum and Black Veterans Archives in Aurora Township by approving an application to the Circuit Court for demolition of 'dangerous and/or unsafe building.' 'This is the very beginning stage' of the demolition process, said Mark VanKerkhoff of the county's Development Department. It could be three to four months before the building actually is torn down, ...

Here we go again with another social experiment

TV One to begin Sunday show aimed at blacks NEW YORK (AP) — Roland Martin will anchor a new Sunday public affairs show aimed at a black audience that will debut in September on the TV One network. The "Washington Watch" program aims to tap into a new interest in politics and government due to the election of President Barack Obama, said Johnathan Rodgers, TV One's president and CEO. It debuts Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. ET, and the show will be repeated each week at 5 p.m. Martin, who is also a CNN commentator, will interview newsmakers and members of the Congressional ...

LA the hard way

When Antonio Villaraigosa ran for Mayor of Los Angeles a few years ago, most of his platform was based on the fact that he would be the first Hispanic Mayor in 133 years. Question his record beyond the historical narrative and suddenly you found yourself framed as one of "those people" who dislike all Hispanics. Well guess what I saw in the store the other day? That's right! The one time golden child for the Left who was gonna fix Los Angeles just by showing up is now being called a "failure" by a major publication. Just back in 2006, the ...

Why the rush to make Michael Jackson a “Christian”

On the days following the death of Michael Jackson, I read from two sources so-called accounts from Christians that Michael Jackson was in fact a Christian. Now I found the claim quite interesting because I know that MJ had also claimed to be a Muslim, Jehovah Witness and I believe that he also embraced Judaism to some extent. But how was it that all of a sudden folks were claiming that MJ was actually a Christian. Here was the first claim I came across. David Pack for purposedriven.com (The article was removed or moved to another link. But here is the ...

It begins here

Okay, all the hatin' over the BET Awards show is really getting silly. Don't like BET? Then work on changing the culture FIRST. If you can change the culture, you will decrease demand for what you feel misrepresents Black folks. Do it the other way around, and more "BETs" will pop up. Need an example? Some of y'all may remember back in the day when local churches would stage protests in front of local porn shops. Did they manage to get a few of them shut down? Sure did. But how did the porn industry respond to meet demand? They moved ...

(blackenterprise.com)

Help for Former Foster Children

Program offers funds for home down payments

By Vikki Conwell

Establishing roots is a little easier for former foster children, thanks to a national program designed to help them become financially-fit adults. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, a St. Louis-based foundation that helps young people transition out of foster care by providing services that promote independent living.

The program targets the 20,000 young people (42% of whom are African American) who leave foster care each year without the financial support to succeed. It offers housing assistance as well as education, employment, and healthcare to former foster care children between the ages of 14 and 23 residing in select cities or counties nationwide.

Once admitted, participants receive financial literacy training, including the basics of banking, and are given $100 in seed money to open an Individual Development Account. For every dollar a participant saves, the program matches $4 for home down payments, $3 for funds to start a business, and $1 for car purchases and other expenses. Funds can also be used to help with college tuition, medical expenses, computer purchases, and apartment deposits. Asset-specific training, such as homeownership counseling, is required before receiving matching funds.

After age 18, states are no longer obligated to provide care or financial assistance to those in the foster care system. Program organizers believe the initiative is a much-needed boost for a population at risk of falling through the cracks. Typically, foster children “turn 18, have no money, and haven’t graduated from high school,” says Gary Stangler, the program’s executive director. “The notion of savings is foreign. Their foremost need is money.” According to the foundation, within four years of leaving foster care, 25% of the population becomes homeless, while less than 20% become self-supporting adults. (more,,,)

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Posted by Duane On August - 21 - 2007

No Responses to “Help for kids coming out of the foster system”

kolaundrai Gee Says:
October 7th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Hi i’m from the Bronx and I turn 21 in January. I’m now living with my boyfriend. I don’t know what to do at all. i age out of foster care with no benifits. i was promise that i would have housing, medical care, and food stamp.i have nothing.
Duane Says:
October 7th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Who promised this to you and are you currently working?
LATISHA Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I WH=ENT IN TO THE SYSTEM WHEN I WAS 6 ALOMOST 7…I GOT OUT WHEN I WAS 19…I IM NOW 22 AND I HAVE BEEN STAY”N WITH MY GRANDMOTHER NOW BUT SHE DOSENT REALLY WANT ME THERE I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD SON I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND I AM NOW WORKING…BUT I DONT MAKE ANUFF TO GET MY OWN PLACE AND TAKE CARE OF ME AND MY SON…I WANTED TO KNO IF THERES WAS ANYTHING T HELP ME GET ON MY OWN 2 FEET….PLZ EMAIL ME …THANK YOU