4 August 2011

Care for youths to span up to 25

| johnboy
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Joy Burch has announced that she’s going to expand care provisions for Youth (note the capital Y) until they’re 25:

Community Services Minister Joy Burch said she would amend the Children and Young People Act 2008 to reflect the increased support available to assist young people transitioning from out-of-home care, such as foster and kinship care placements, funded in the 2011-12 ACT Budget.

“Young people don’t automatically become independent when they turn 18,” Ms Burch said.

“These reforms will help young people in out-of-home care get the support they need to transition to adulthood and undertake further education and training.”

But who will look after them when they’re 26?

They’ll have been drinking and driving for seven years in Government care, why strip it away from them then?

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“Care” was really the wrong choice in this context. They are not at all suggesting an extension of the guardian role of the carers. What it appears to be about is giving these youngsters – who are often at high risk of underachieving – support to find accommodation, employment, etc. And I think lots of them will benefit from that.

A further delay in their transition to being adults.

People don’t all make the transition to independence at the same time, so what’s magic about the number 25? As JB says, what about when they’re 26?

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