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Bill aims to help foster children transition out of system
It's a rocky road for young adults transitioning out of foster care. More youth go homeless everyday due to the lack of needed services. But LB 216 proposed by one Nebraska Senator would ease the path transitioning out of foster care.
The bill will help a larger population that local centers like the one here in Hastings aren't able to accommodate due to an overflow. But the program director tells me the Hastings Living Center is still significant for those wouldn't qualify for LB 216. Imagine being nineteen fresh out of high school with no place to live, no health benefits and little family support. "Six percent of youth who transition out of foster care at age nineteen will have a two or four year degree by the time they turn twenty-five. And 40 percent of males will end up in prison and 50 percent of females will have their own children in the system," said Heartland CASA Executive Director Amy Bennett. Amy Bennett is the advisor for Project Everlast. In November of 2012 youth in Project Everlast made their voices loud and clear. "The youth went and they advocated to the state and they knocked on the doors of senators and wanted them to understand the importance of what happens to kids when they transition out of foster care," said Bennett. LB 216, the Young Adult Voluntary Services and Support Act will extend transition services and support for those youth. They'll receive in housing assistance, Medicaid coverage and case management services until the age of 21. "They kind of help hit a wider population than what we're able to when we have such a high amount of homeless aged out foster youth," said Lauren Slaughter, Hastings Living Center. Lauren Slaughter, Program Director for the Hastings Living Center, a housing facility for the homeless and aged out foster youth says the statewide project will serve as a supplemental program. "There are plenty of youth, especially in Hastings, that are homeless or are near homeless that we'll be able to reach out to and assist that wouldn't qualify for LB 216," said Slaughter. Renovations for the Living Center here in Hastings will be completed in June and they expect to move in the youth by July 1st. |
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