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Nura Billings

Mr. Jorgensen

Writing 1010

17 July 2018

Future of Our Youth

Foster care system is said to be for reunification. The need for More Foster homes is

necessary at this time. The purpose of this paper is to draw awareness of the issue that children

face when they are no longer able to live with their parents. How many people are willing to help

the youth here in the United States. Are you prepared to be the person who saves a life?

Hope lives on through awareness. We have over 467,000 youth that are in foster care all

around the United States. The youth estimated to age out yearly is 250,248. Statistics reveal that

children under the age of five have a higher chance of adoption. Children that are older than 5

have a difficult chance of finding their permanent home, and the consequence is that they're

bounced around from home to home, or live in institution, and or group homes with other foster

youth. (Foster Care | Covenant House)

We have an influx of youth who are inside facilities across the United States. There is

over 300,000 undocumented youth that is being held in the United States either they were born

here, but their parents didn’t have legal status, or their visa expired. Some of the youth have been

caught trying to illegally cross into the United States with parents or a person claiming to be the

child’s parent. Some have been attempting to cross alone.

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About twenty five percent of the youth that will age out of foster care are subjected to

homelessness because, without links to family members and opportunities to foster relationships,

they have no one to turn too. How many of the undocumented youth are going to be entering a

world without stability and a stable family unit? How many parents are willing to allow their

child to roam the streets homeless, hungry, and alone? (Foster Care | Covenant House)

The Governments' priority is to keep the kids safe. Without papers to identify the

children and without documents to prove their identity cause a major issue. Without papers, the

government cannot decide on the unaccompanied minors’ outcome, so they stay stuck in limbo.

Because at this time slavery still occurs around the world and sweatshops are still operating.

The laws have existed since 1916 against children being forced to work. The media has

made a stance that the current administration is the cause of the detention of undocumented

immigrants who are held in these facilities. The government cannot allow unaccompanied

minors to be subject to homelessness. Who would ensure that these kids are safe?

Our border patrol agents have their hands full with the flooding of the youth. The backlog

of unresolved cases the courts have is one issue. (CIS: Massive Immigration Court Backlog Due

to Continuance Cases) History taught us that youth are the most vulnerable and we need to

protect them as best we can. How do we ask our government to defy its very own policy and

release the minors without proper verification of their identity? It seems so outlandish, and the

only stance I can take on the subject is that the process is followed by all who wish to migrate to
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the country. The government is well established, and we should be proud of our country. The

division, and unrest currently happening is not a move towards, progress it’s a setback.

The census was able to determine that the number of undocumented immigrants living in

the United States. The number is quite significant in the undocumented people living among us is

estimated to be around 11.6 million. The number is based on the people who step forward and

declared such status. These people were either issued a visa for work or study or even a tourist

visa but failed to return. They might have been neighbour or co-workers even other students

living amongst us. Some were children who arrived here with their parents and when the time

arrived for them to leave they parents might have decided to stay. Leaving the kids without a

choice. They were forced to live day to day as usual.

The children from undocumented parents are living in facilities across America. These

are the children of the parents that were arrested and now are waiting for a hearing or

deportation. Adding 300,000 youth into the foster care system is frightening. The parents have an

option to reunite with their kids, who will then accompany their parents during deportation.

Alternatively, the parents can sign their rights away to the government leaving their

children behind, I understand, that they hope their kids have a better chance here in the states.

The reality is that kids without a home, and a family are more likely to struggle, far greater than

if they lived with family. Ask the kids if they want to stay in a country without family ties, and

most would refuse to be living in a state with out their parent.

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A young man who entered into foster care at the age of Twelve years old. His mother

passed away, and without thinking about making arrangements, or an emergency plan her son

fell victim to the system. John lived in many different homes his life was shuffled numerous

times, and he found that he was place in many homes. Sharing his story, he mentions that a few

days before his eighteenth birthday, he was kicked out his foster home. He mentions that the only

reason he didn't end up homeless is that he enrolled in college. The story of John is unique

because he is one of a few that make it out unscathed. (John Devine| Foster Care)

When people protest about the separation of youth and families, they forget about the

American youth who have endured such uncertainty, but yet no one speaks up for them. How can

we reject them once again? The harsh reality is that the migrant children will face a lot of

uncertain circumstances. They will face what our youth in foster care face. Parents need to think

about their child and keep their families together if able to do so. The facilities that harbor the

foster care youth are not safe. Since the start of the administration, people are upset about people

who broke the law.” (Child Welfare 2016)

Facts:

“The outcome statistics for children leaving foster care reflects percentages

for the permanency goals, especially for reunification and adoption. Exits. Of the

estimated 250,248 children who exited foster care during” The percentage

provided by Childwalfare.gov Is as follows:

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Fiscal Year 2016:

• 51 percent were reunited with parent(s) or primary caretaker(s).

• 23 percent were adopted.

• 8 percent were emancipated.

• 10 percent went to live with a guardian.

• 7 percent went to live with another relative

• 2 percent had other outcomes.”

We have to decided if our communities are worth investing in. Because, our future is

being degraded, and we are failing the children by not helping in anyway we can. Do we

want our youth to prosper, and have a chance at life? The future is what we should focus on,

and that means the children are in need our support.

If someone choose to open up their heart, and home to the children because they need a

role model that they can be their role model. Be the person that assures them that they are

okay, and one action of kindness makes someone’s day that much brighter. Be the one that

gives them hope, care, and stability. Because they are the future leaders, doctors, and lawyers

of America.

It’s time to help the youth that are already entangled in the foster care system, and also

the many thousands about to enter the care. Be that person that saves a life. For more

information on how you can support the children of America go to: www.childwelfare.gov
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The Graph below is one that shows the number of youth in care (Foster youth) And the

number of kids who are undocumented (The migrant kids) The total of two groups.
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Works Cited

“The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: 40 Years of Safeguarding America's

Children.” The National Incidence Study (NIS) - Child Welfare Information Gateway,

Damashek, Drass, & Bonner (2014),

www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-

immigration-today-3

www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/federal/.

Foster Care FACTS.” Kentucky: Cabinet for Health and Family Services - CHFS,

chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dpp/Pages/foster-care-facts.aspx.

“Immigration Reform.” America's Voice, americasvoice.org/.

“Implementation of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008:

Working Document.” The National Incidence Study (NIS) - Child Welfare Information

Gateway, Damashek, Drass, & Bonner (2014),

www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/federal/fosteringconnections/.

Kennedy, Robert F. “Immigration Quotes from Great Americans.” CitizenPath,

citizenpath.com/immigration-quotes-great-Americans/.

“The Massive Increase in the Immigration Court Backlog.” CIS.org, cis.org/Report/Massive-

Increase-Immigration-Court-Backlog.
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Pitofsky, Marina, and Merdie Nzanga. “People Will March in All 50 States to Protest Trump's

'Zero Tolerance' Immigration Policy.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information

Network, 29 June 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/28/immigration-

families-belong-together-rally-washington-dc-protests/738997002/.