“[My friend] was telling me about how she’s at this [foster care] facility because she got caught drinking or smoking … but this facility is like a prison,” said junior Nyla Garrick. “Nobody, no matter how bad you were as a child … should have to go through that because once you do, [even after you] age out of foster care, it stays with you your whole life. That girl [is] not gonna be good, and neither are any of those kids in that program.”
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, foster care is “a temporary, court-monitored service provided by States to promote the safety, permanency and well-being of children and youth.” While the goal of foster care may be noble, as it aims to provide children a safe place to live when their home life may be troublesome, it is filled with countless issues, including the quality of the facilities and the overall lack of resources and money.
“[The program is given] about $1300 a month, which is around thirty dollars a day [to spend on the foster kids],” Garrick said. “Especially living here in the Bay, they don’t necessarily [adjust] the money [area to area]. You get the same money every time wherever you go. Especially if you’re placed with blood relatives, they give you less support.”
The lack of social workers is another issue that plagues the nation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics believes there will be a decrease of 74,000 social workers each year through 2033. Although many social workers begin their careers because they want to help these children, many get overwhelmed because they have so many children in their care.
“The social worker has to physically see you every month, [but] it doesn’t mean they have to talk to you,” Garrick said. “They’ll come to your door and have the kids step outside, [and they’ll say] ‘Oh, they look good. Great. I’m gone.’”
To combat this, programs such as California Youth Connection work to make sure that social workers are held accountable and actually serve the children for what they really need. Garrick, a member of the organization, explains that they are currently working to pass a bill to hold social workers responsible and make sure that they are truly educated in what they need to do.
“We went to the Capitol, Washington D.C., and worked with policymakers, legislators and senators to talk about our struggles and what needs to happen,” Garrick said.
Aragon counselor Lea Sanguinetti is also the Homeless and Foster Youth Liaison for Aragon High School. She works with any foster youth who come into Aragon to provide them with any extra resources they may need to succeed.
“Sometimes if I get a student, I don’t have any records for them, so I have to get to know the student,” Sanguinetti said. “Because the goal is to get them across the stage to get that diploma.”
Graduation requirements are one thing that the state of California does have specific differences for between non-foster youth and foster youth. According to the California Department of Education, under specified criteria, some foster youth only need 130 credits to graduate, unlike Aragon’s 220 credits. This helps with foster youth whose placement changes so quickly, that no record has yet been created at their previous school regarding grades and classes.
Aragon High School provides a number of resources for academics, physical and mental needs for foster youth.
“We try to set students up with tutoring if need be,” Sanguinetti said. “You don’t want to overload them with so many things because sometimes they just want to feel a sense of normalcy. Supplies and backpacks [are also provided], as well as the outside piece of school clothes … and the free breakfast, brunch and lunch.”
Another outside resource that some foster youth in San Mateo County may turn to is Pivotal, a non-profit organization contracted through the county.
“I help youth establish goals and find out where their strengths are,” said Pivotal coach Sarah Rodriguez. “From there we [look at] interest in careers, college and trade schools and how to get there. [We] teach them how to advocate for themselves. [We also] collaborate with social workers, probation caregivers and academic counselors to review their academic transcripts, making sure they [graduate].”
Besides assisting foster youth with academic aspects, they also provide other forms of support.
“We do a lot of different strategies in coaching,” Rodriguez said. “Motivational interviewing is one of our techniques to navigate all the [mental struggles], coming out with a positive outcome.”
Foster youth can face very difficult life circumstances, which may include post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual abuse, abandonment issues or being around drug or alcohol abuse. Many different organizations work together to support the youth in overcoming any trauma, including Pivotal coaches who can connect youth with mental health experts and counselors.
Last year, all six of Rodriguez’s seniors on her caseload graduated from high school.
“When I watch my youth [walk] across the stage and I see them graduate, I had a box of Kleenex,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the most rewarding to see them graduate that way and move on.”
Overall, there is more work to do to increase success for foster youth, yet there are many individuals and organizations dedicated to fulfilling that cause.
More Resources about the Foster Care System and Foster Youth:
- San Mateo County Office of Education: https://www.smcoe.org/for-schools/district-student-services/foster-youth-education.html
- California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/fy/
- Pivotal: https://www.pivotalnow.org/
- California Youth Connection: https://calyouthconn.org/
- Foster Youth Museum: https://fosteryouthmuseum.org/
- CASA of San Mateo: https://www.casaofsanmateo.org/
