DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Around a dozen young people will soon move into brand new homes. They have endured a tough childhood in Georgia’s foster care system. According to Wellroot Family Services, one of the oldest child welfare organizations, there are more than 11,000 kids in the foster care system. More than 600 are about 17 years old, about to age out of care, and must figure out what their next steps look like.
Allison Ashe is president and CEO of Wellroot. She said young people aging out of the foster care system don’t typically have the support others would have.
“They don’t have access to their family often, and they’re going through a very important and transitional time in life,” Ashe said. “Young people who have experienced the foster care system are much more likely to experience homelessness, they’re much more likely to experience incarceration or teen pregnancy. But statistics also show if you wrap those young people with support services, they can make the successful transition into adulthood just like those who are still with their biological families.”…