Emancipated Youth

The term "emancipation" refers to the release of teenagers from the control of the Juvenile Dependency Court System and the care of the County Social Services Agency. At 18 years, they “age out,” and the law requires them to leave the system because they are no longer the responsibility of the County, and are expected to fend for themselves. For the majority of these teenagers/young adults, the transition is very difficult as they face a host of challenges in attempting in settle themselves into the adult life and be independent at the age of 18. This is a very vulnerable population.

Data/Statistics

1. Over 4,000 youth age out of the California’s foster care system each year.
2. On any given day, more than 500,000 youth are in some form of foster care across the United States. Nearly 80,000 live in California.
3. Nationally, each year an estimated 20,000 of these youth emancipate out of the foster care system, and are discharged from the system, whether or not they are prepared to transition to adulthood. About 25% of these youth live in California. (Ednote: This somewhat contradicts #1; 25% of 20,000 is 5,000, not 4,000. Need to check the facts between these. May want to combine the two points once the correct number is verified.)
4.  Within 18 months of emancipation, 40-50% of former foster youths become homeless. Nationally, 27% of the homeless population spent time in foster care. 65% of youth leaving foster care need immediate housing upon release.
5. 70% of teens who are emancipated from foster care report that they want to attend college, but less than 50% complete their high school graduation and fewer than 10% of who graduate high school enroll in college, and of these less than 1% graduate from college.
6. 50% of emancipated youth experience high rates of unemployment within 5 years of emancipation. (Ednote: the 50% is itself the high rate; may want to say 'chronic unemployment' instead?)
7. 42% of foster youth, including 60% of women, become parents within 2.5-4 years after exiting care.
8. Parents with a history of foster care are almost twice as likely to see their own children placed in foster care or become homeless than parents without this history.
9. Females in foster care are six times more likely than the general population to give birth before age 21.
10. 25% of former foster youth will be incarcerated within the first two years of emancipation.

For more information:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm
http://cssr.berkeley.edu/ucb_childwelfare/
http://www.ca.lwv.org/jjds/chap6.html
http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/
www.casey.org
www.fostercaremonth.org

Opportunity to Minister

One opportunity to minister to emancipated youth comes through Olive Crest. The Transitional Housing Program Plus (THP+), is a program serviced by Olive Crest and is aimed towards emancipated youth between the ages of 18-24. Olive Crest provides twenty individuals with an apartment to live in. The apartments are mostly in the Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and in Fullerton area. They are required to pay rent every month, but the rent is minimized and much cheaper than it would be if they were to rent outside this program. The amount of rent is raised every three months for a two year period. During these two years, these young adults take advantage of this low housing cost as they look for jobs and pursue education. Additionally, they learn how to budget and manage their money and to live independently as they also have case managers who help guide them throughout the two years.

Two Thursdays a month they all meet as a group in the Orange County area for an informal gathering . These meetings are mostly held in the same area in Santa Ana at the Olive Crest headquarters for approximately two hours. On the first Thursday meeting, they are invited to come, eat, hang out and enjoy themselves. The second Thursday meetings are more informational, with seminars being held to give them various information and lessons on independent living skills. These meetings also serve as an accountability meeting to ensure that everything is going well with each individual. We have the opportunity to join in on the first Thursday meetings once a month as “volunteers” or “mentors” to build relationships with people there. It is an informal gathering, so if we want, we could coordinate games or bring/cook food, and through this avenue, we would try to build relationships with these individuals. Once we build that relationship, we will be able to assist them in whatever circumstances they would need assistance with. Some are looking for jobs, some are enrolling in schools, and some are just looking for people to hang out with. There are many needs that they all have and there are definitely opportunities to help with those needs and also to build relationships outside of the Thursday meetings. In addition to the THP+ young adults, Olive Crest also invites those who have been served by Olive Crest (or other agencies) in the past to come out to the first Thursday meetings. They are referred to as the “alumni” group and their ages range from 18-50 years old. They all come from different stages in life.

Ultimately, as we build relationships and help with needs, our aim would be to share the Gospel of Christ. Relationships take time to build and especially with this population, we want to be a consistent presence as they may have experienced many instances of people going in and out of their lives. Most have unfortunate pasts of neglect, abuse, and other forms of mistreatment. We want to show them that we are coming out because we want to care for them, we want to serve and help them, and above all to display the excellencies of Christ. We want to be an available presence, not only by consistently coming out once a month, but if possible, being able to meet outside of the organized meetings. We want to be an influence to all who are involved in this program and in so doing, people will see our lives and our motivation and be willing to give their time to listen of what we want to share with them.

As Christians, we all strive to live out what Christ says in Matthew 5:16—“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” By God’s grace, we are able to do so in all different areas of our lives. This is another opportunity that has been presented to us whereby we are able to be salt and light and to minister to those who are desperately in need of our message. We can offer them only so much, but we want them to know that there is a greater and perfect love through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thus, in coming out to the meetings, in building relationships, and in serving in whatever capacity we are allowed to serve, we want to make known Christ and honor Him. By God’s grace, we are able to do this (2 Cor. 4:6).

Eligibility Requirements/Commitment Level

Anyone who is able and willing to commit to building a relationship for an extended period of time is encouraged to serve and come out to the meetings, on the first Thursday of every month. The population varies in stages of life and background, and so all members with different backgrounds themselves (married, single, parents, students, etc.) are encouraged to serve. If the commitment to serve is there, the opportunity to serve is available to all.

Since this chance to serve is primarily based on building relationships, the commitment level requires a minimum of six months; one may be able to build relationships with multiple individuals if the time and effort to invest in them is available. Since they are emancipated and therefore legally adults, the process to become a volunteer is simple. One must interview with the volunteer program coordinator, fill out an application, and obtain a copy of his/her driving record. Again, as long as the willingness is there to serve, any member can be a volunteer.

Challenges

The commitment to come out on a monthly basis might make it hard to serve in this way. Additionally, there are uncertainties as to what may come about in the future that could cause one to have to stop serving in this manner. The commitment level is set up because the ministry is about building relationships and it takes time to do so. There should definitely be a commitment to serve, but of greater importance is the heart to serve. As long as the heart is there to serve, with the Gospel being the fuel, this ministry should be considered.

Another challenge is that the first Thursday meetings are not mandatory and so it may not attract many people we are trying to serve. It may be discouraging to come out to the meetings and see so few people. We pray that this will not be the case, but it is a possibility. The process of building relationships can also have stages results that are discouraging. We have to be wise and discerning as we interact with this population. It may be that we may offend them, or they may offend us. For some, it might be difficult to even get a chance to build a relationship. However, as we see this as an open-door opportunity to share the gospel, we should openly, humbly, and faithfully embrace that opportunity and trust that God will do what He desires and wills to do. Whether there are many or few that come out, or whether we are able to build relationships or not, we should be faithful and trust in God. We should also be reminded that we are not doing this in the name of volunteerism or idealism. Our prayer is that, through this ministry, we would be used by Him for His name's sake. Psalm 115:1—“Not to us O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.”

With that said, most of these individuals do want to be helped. They see these Thursday gatherings as a safe place for them to be more open as they are more willing to trust the people that they see within these meetings. They have been proactive in taking advantage of the program that Olive Crest is providing for them. They want to have an education and find jobs and so they are welcoming to any kind of help that we could provide for them. Some are looking for people that they can relate to and be friends with. Whether it is helping with a job resume, with school applications, or inviting them out to play sports on Sundays, or to go watch a movie, most of them will be open to our service.

If interested in serving in this way, please contact Peter Ahn.