More and more young people remain in the family home after the age of eighteen. There may be several reasons for this. The cost of living in the UK and a job market that is still in recovery means that many wages are not high enough for young adults to leave the family home.
Starting salaries for junior employees are often too low to allow them to comfortably move into private accommodation directly outside the family home. Staying longer in the family home can give young people the opportunity to save from their first income before moving out on their own. Children who come from foster homes should also have this opportunity, early in their adult lives.
Adolescents in foster care may not always feel that they have this option available after they turn eighteen. It depends on the family environment in the home and the relationship between the foster child and other family members. Foster children may feel that they are a burden on the family or that they do not want to impose more on their foster parents. This is where legislation can help by providing additional funds to adoptive parents who can accommodate adoptive children in their homes after the age of eighteen. This can help alleviate the financial aspect of the decision to foster youth after they turn eighteen.
The legislation may also support foster caregivers for whom funding is not an issue, but would like the law’s support if they continue to care for foster children in their homes who have turned eighteen and decide to stay. The decision to stay should be a mutual one between the foster carer and the youth in care, with all relevant authorities and child welfare agencies fully informed, to protect both the child and the foster parent, and to ensure that all parties understand their roles and authorities.
Foster children also need support if they are to continue their studies. The application process, obtaining acceptance letters, choosing the right institution based on course fees and topic of interest, among other considerations, can be daunting. College applications often require additional supporting statements and reference letters from professional adults who have known the youth for some time. This may not be easier to obtain for a youth who has been in guardianship for an extended period. Having a foster parent who is able and willing to support a youth through this application stage can be a great help to a youth embarking on the next step in higher education.