To be clear, I am not writing this to make a political stance, but rather to inform my fellow foster peers how the ACA can help youth. For those of us that have “aged out” of care but are still younger than 26 can get coverage through the ACA via the medicare expansion. There is a provision in the law that allows youth that don’t have a parent whose insurance plan they can join, to get coverage.
Just LoveOur therapist said she went to a conference last week. The main point? Kids just need love.
Managing behaviors, creating new neural pathways, potty training, making decisions about futures, teaching, remaining calm, using the right words, knowing the right techniques, researching best practices, cooking the right foods, creating visuals..sometimes it’s too much.
Just love? That seems feasible. That sounds like something I can do.
I can do that because it’s done for me.
#15 On being Fostered YouthThese aren’t about me
can’t you see?
—-
They say we score high in situational awareness
Those of us who’ve survived
are adaptable, moldable, never certain
if we are who we are
I’m my mother, my father
My brothers, My sisters
My first family, my second, their third
We know where to hide
in order to avoid black eyes
We know when to cry
in order to get by
We break
because we aren’t sure if we know, if we are who we are
We don’t want to be
our mothers or our fathers
As hard as we try we can’t pull them from being inside.
(via Broken Foster System Leaves L.A. Youth Unprepared For Adulthood | Neon Tommy)
According to this article 25-40% of youth that age out of the system are homeless within 18 months of leaving the system. They referred to the state as foster youth’s parents, which logically is true, but who can you call when the state is your parent and they are neglecting you?