Training for Foster Kid about to Age-Out

Job experience and training are very important to all kids and young adults. Getting young people this needed experience can only be done with cooperation between employers and the community. Creating flexible community based learning environments combined with incentives to business and industry to create employment opportunities is key in the development of young adult (Reconnecting). While these types of relationships are very important there have been too few real world examples. One of the few examples can be found in Philadelphia’s, “In creating a viable business that incorporates a successful youth training program, Tastykake, PNC and Allegheny West have demonstrated how the private sector and non-profit world can work together to insure better outcomes for our city’s youth” (Tasty). Programs like Philadelphia’s WorkReady should be used as templates and examples in cities all over the US.

Sibylle Tasker considers getting a job and being able to support yourself as the biggest success factor for kids in foster care. She spoke about the importance of real world interaction in work environments.

The Junior League of Milwaukee and Kids Matter work together to connect kids with volunteer mentors that can offer real world experience. This program is still in the development stage, but there is a huge amount of potential. Private sector partnerships, like the WorkReady program, need to be expanded upon (Tasty). In addition to the private sector, the government can offer useful job experience and training programs. In Milwaukee the city and county governments hire hundreds of teenage seasonal workers every spring. This type of employment is ideal for foster kids nearing eighteen for several reasons. Seasonal jobs offer experience communicating with other employees and the public in business situations, gives employees the opportunity to return to work summer after summer, and the possibility promotion. Another equally important way the government can help foster kids ageing out is to increase the financial aid opportunities and availability. As the level of cooperation increases between non-profits like Kids Matter, private sector businesses, and the government the more prepared foster kids will be when they turn 18 and they’ll be more likely to live a long prosperous life.