Thank you 🫶🏻

that's great! it should be like that everywhere, 21 is a minimum imo, it's not right to throw 18 year olds to the curb, that's not how it happens in most families so it's not fair to withdraw so much from a teen just because they're legally an adult....

The US does have that in many states but the problem is there are a lot of teens who don't want to stay in foster care and the rates of former foster youth signing themselves into extended foster care programs are very low. I left the group home I was at the day I turned 18 and there was absolutely nothing that anyone could have done to convince me to stay even though I was homeless and ended up couch surfing until I was taken in by a classmates' family. The big complaints are there can be a lot of rules and it can be restrictive staying in foster care and after having years of the system running your life, a lot of foster youth want the freedom to make their own decisions. But many foster parents don't want teens for the fear of problems and thus want even more rules/restrictions on any 18+ year olds in the home and that just sets up a lot of conflict. A lot of foster youth would prefer being provided their own apartment in extended foster care, not living with in a foster home. I ended up enlisting in the military and even though it did have restrictions, I felt I had more control over my life and it did provide more help/support than a typical job.

I'm in Connecticut. Foster kids in this state get help getting an apartment at 18, and the program helps until around age 24 or something. My only issue is some people live at home longer than that, so I think the voucher should go for longer.

The states do that, too .... I believe they have to be in school

California has this. After 18, the foster child can get paid themselves until age 21 or they can be in a placement until 21.

That's great!

I needed help until I graduated from college so luckily, I was able to live at home.

Agreed. They are at a high risk of trafficking, crime, substance abuse, etc. 😔

Me too!!

I know! Just celebrated his 5th birthday 😭

@@BeTheVillageCommunity I bet he had a very special day xxx

We went through the application for services the first weekend 🙌🏼

This is just so awesome this former 30yrs old 😅 😊 Foster Kid is very impressed 😊

​jobcorp might also be a great resource depending on her vocational goals. They have a housing option as well.

1000000% 🫶🏻

I have never been a foster parent, but, twice we have aged out former foster kids here. I knew them from church, their old-fashioned adoptive parent made them leave and he has died. It did not work out well with the young adults. They lost jobs and lied about the situation, and kept claiming to be "sick." I had to tell one "never again" and the other moved far away to live with birth relatives. I would think it would be simple - they need to work, pay a little room and board, and save money so they can live independently. But, they keep lapsing into helplessness.

@@joycejarrard6958it definitely sounds like you weren’t a good fit for them and it was the right thing for you to do for all of you to end the arrangement. Kids with that much trauma don’t always thrive with the structure you were providing with no room for error, and their needs were probably more than you were equipped to handle.

That speaks volumes for the care they gave ❤️‍🔥

Thank you so much 🙌🏼 unnecessary but very grateful 🫶🏻

It truly was built up when you all fell in love with Miss A! Also, just to clarify… (not saying you meant anything and with it) but let’s have positive family language. Yes, some families may be hurting too and going through crisis. Let’s not assume within the village or with anything I’ve shared or not shared 🫶🏻

Love seeing these kids mature into adults! It may not always look the same or be perfect, but to see the choices shift as they grow… it’s a proud caregiver moment for sure.

Thank you 🫶🏻

Welcome!

Wow!

I doubt it. She has her licence.

So sorry you are experiencing that. It can’t be easy.

@@BeTheVillageCommunity first anyone reading this, unfortunately, you cannot always predict the future of vulnerable individuals, I am so glad we were able to do what we could, and hopefully will be an influence on his life in the future, thank you!

That's awesome!

Well I’m glad you stuck around 🫶🏻

I am assuming she is choosing to maintain her foster license despite the fact that she is currently taking a break. If she doesn't update the homestudy, she could have her license revoked. She would then have to start all over with the licensing process when she does begin taking placements again.

Her license will still be active, and it has to have accurate information about any adults living in the home in order to be in compliance whether there are active placements there or not. I assume if she deactivated her license temporarily then they wouldn't need the info, but she would have to go back through all of the licensure stuff again to reactivate.

I believe it is simply to comply with state license requirements. If I have a license I need to have a bed designated for a potential foster and all adults checked for safety.

Yes, and then needs to be amended again when they leave. It isn't fun for the family, adult or worker. That also includes when a foster parent's child turns 18. If the adult does not agree then the license has to be closed.

I will work on that for the next video! I do have a foster family gift list in my link tree if that helps! I can add Taco Bell 🌮🌮🌮🌮

I think she made a video about this a while ago. I don't remember the answer exactly but I think the answer was mostly no. Maybe to run an errand and the teen didn't want to go..but I don't think she allowed for any formal babysitting due to the power dynamic. ,(i.e. it wasn't because she didn't the teens to take care of her kids). But again, please look at thr video for her own words in case I am wrong.

I’m not a person of faith so this isn’t any higher powers work in my eyes, it’s just being a good human and taking care of others if I’m able to.

@BeTheVillageCommunity being a conscious and good person to others is being the hands and feet of Jesus. You are proving God's love for us. You are a person of faith when you do God's work. There is a higher power which is why you are GOOD and not evil. He loves you whether you know HIM or not! The only reason we breathe everyday is because of that Higher power Sister and you know Him and He knows you.

Yes

It’s still there!

No

She said no.