Our Opinion: Easing transitions following foster care

Transitions may be both liberating and terrifying.

Teens in foster care experience such a transition when they age out of program.

Two pilot projects - at colleges in St. Louis and Springfield - offer courses designed to provide people ages 17-21 with job placement assistance and ongoing support. According to an Associated Press report: "Organizers say the project is needed because teens exiting foster care are less likely to graduate high school, go to college or find long-term employment."

DeAnna Alonzo, executive director of the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association, supports those initiatives and hopes they will be extended to Mid-Missouri.

"It's good to offer training, workshops and job readiness programs to the youth in foster care," she said. "However, what's really needed are the businesses that will open their doors with actual "active spots' for these youth."

In addition to matching job readiness with job offers, she also identified transportation as a vital factor.

Having a job requires getting there, but Alonzo said: "You would think most have their driver's license and cars. Simply not true."

She cited a 2013 survey by the association that found most youth in foster care either did not have the required drive time to apply for a license or could not afford automobile insurance.

She also pointed out public transit operations are limited. Jefferson City's public transit system, JeffTran, operates from to 6:40 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. "We need a transportation system allowing second and third shift travel. How are "aging out' foster youth supposed to attend post-secondary education and then go to work without safe and reliable transportation?"

We encourage the city's recently formed Public Transit Advisory Committee to consider the need for expanded services, not only for former foster children, but for all residents who must travel to work, school or elsewhere at night and on weekends.

Transitions are challenging under the best of circumstances. Our community has an interest in eliminating obstacles in the paths of people striving to advance.