We want to thank Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island College President Dr. Jack Warner for listening to the voices that are sadly too often not heard. These voices are that of our foster youth who are about to “age out” of state care and enter the real world without having the same supports that other kids their age enjoy and utilize into adulthood.
For years, we have focused on Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-K and free day care for our youngest and most vulnerable children in state care. We have invested heavily – meaning millions of dollars – in early childhood. And these investments are critical to supporting the development and well-being of our youngest, most vulnerable children. But we tend to forget about the kids in care as they get older. That is, until recently.
In 2021, we passed legislation to start tracking the graduation rates and achievement rates for kids in state care with the hope that this will help us put them on the path to higher education and future success.
And now, in 2024, a tremendous opportunity will be offered to our children aging out of foster care that will serve them for their entire lives.
This year’s state budget supports a pilot program at Rhode Island College to provide tuition waivers at Rhode Island College for youth aging out of state care. This is an amazing and generous opportunity for our vulnerable young people. This is also a great investment in their future, and ours, and we are grateful that it was included in the budget.
This population of young people, when ignored and forgotten, are likely to become homeless, suffer food insecurities, become pregnant before the age of 21, become incarcerated, or worse. The statistics are truly alarming, so, let’s take care of them now and not later at even greater expense to the taxpayers. This pilot program offers hope and is a road to lead these youth to become successful, productive citizens.
Thank you Speaker Shekarchi, Governor McKee and Dr. Warner for listening, and for investing, in our most vulnerable youth. This was long overdue.
Representative Casimiro, a Democrat, represents District 31 in North Kingstown and Exeter. She serves as the Chair of the House Oversight Children and Families Subcommittee. Darlene Allen, MS is the CEO and Executive Director of Adoption RI.
