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Should the legal age of foster care be raised from 18 to 21 years or older?
YOUR SAYShould the legal age of foster care be raised from 18 to 21 years or older?
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I don`t know about the legal age of foster care but I think the legal age of drinking should be raised to 21!
Dear Living Black, Sending you sincere thanks on behalf of the CREATE team for a really positive experience during the media interviews that Kris Flanders and Stefan Armbruster did for the foster care story. Kris and Stefan made amazing connections with the interviewees and did such an incredible job making everyone feel at ease. Thanks for your support in getting the word out there about the needs and experiences of kids in care. Best regards, Leigh White On behalf of CREATE Foundation
This is an interesting debate. I myself was placed in foster care and was not forced out at 18, my brother who is also in the same family is 25 and still living at home. Yes the departments involved have parental responsibility so why isn't there ongoing suport, though look at the foster carers who, when these young people turn 18 they say it's time to move out! There is so much that can be unpacked in regards to this debate, where to start that is the question!!! Policy in regards to departments or the care these children are recieving???
Not all indigenous kids can go back to their original home as sometimes that's why they were placed in foster care in the first place. But perhaps whers possible indigenous kids need to be placed with indigenous families. But the care and support should definately be there for the child for a lot longer then 18, it should be based on the individual and their needs not just one blanket age.
NO. For many children in foster care (especially Indigenous young people) they are desperate to re-connect with their families/communities. Unfortunately many of these young people are not supported by the Government agencies to stay connected with their culture and are put in care far away from their community. There are many agencies that do not have the cultural knowledge and expereince with dealing with Aboriginal youth and fail in their duty to ensure thay stay connected. Whilst it is definately important to support these young people past the age of 18yrs- it would not be to their benefit to "force" them to stay in the system when the best outcome would be to help them be with their families and learn their culure.
Absolutely. How can we expect people just to suddenly find work, find employment, find accommodation at the age of 18? Most of the time these kids have had such a rough upbringing and that impacts on you. They need that extra support. This country has it all mixed up when politicans get massive paypackets but the vulnerable always struggle!
Kris, We all saw the story about The Shed and by unanimous decision, we all loved it. Thank you very much for all your effort (and to all the Living Black crew) because you made The Shed look like a dynamic, interesting and compassionate place. Publicity like this is absolutely essential if we want to sustain this program. Again thank you my friend, you are an artist! Cheers, Gavin Dickson, The Shed
Yes, absolutely. Most people have some sort of family support until well after the age of 18 so therefore someone who has grown up under the strenuous circumstances of not being surrounded by their blood-kin should at least be given this extra support.
Yes. My brother's 22 and only just has his head screwed on, he just broke up with his girlfriend and constantly changes his mind. The brain doesn't fully develop till 21, and, for males, 25. So the legal age of foster care should be addressed and raised till 21 years of age.