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On Their Own: What Happens to Kids When They Age Out of the Foster Care System
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| List Price: | $16.95 |
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Product Description
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #389255 in Books
- Published on: 2006-08-07
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 336 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Foster care is designed to provide for children up until the age of 18, but what happens after that? Shirk and Stangler note in the introduction to their study that in today's society, young people don't tend to reach full maturity until their mid-twenties, and most children leaving foster care aren't even equipped with the basic tools (a high-school diploma, a driver's license or state ID, work experience) the average 18-year-old possesses. Shirk and Stangler examined several individual cases in various states to see how well the children faired. One chapter examines three brothers whose fates diverged: one is currently in jail for armed robbery, another died in a car crash, and the third is happily married with a new business. One young woman makes it through a series of foster homes and high schools to earn a hard-won college degree and a position as a teacher, while one young man yearns for a family but keeps running afoul of the law. Jimmy Carter provides the forward for this important and often heart-wrenching book. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
From the Foreword by President Jimmy Carter
"'On Their Own' is a must-read account... for all Americans who care about children."
-- President Jimmy Carter
Mark Courtney, Director, Chapin Hall Center for Children
"'On Their Own' is a much needed contribution to the discussion of our nation's foster care system."
Customer Reviews
Explains what really happens after foster care
The collection of stories here runs the gamut from terribly sad to uplifting. But, all in all, it is a really tough road for those aging out of the system. If you are involved in foster care, or advocacy for children in need of assistance, this is an eye-opening book, particularly for those not schooled in social services, or working in that field.
Author of Returnable Girl
We need to know what happens to the foster kids of America, and how they are being left behind. Ms. Shirk does a tremendous service by documenting this crisis. For a story about a foster teen and her journey to adoption which is uplifting, but realistic, you might want to check out Returnable Girl [...]
Good for novices to foster care system
The interworkings of social services and esp. that of foster care are complex and take much to understand. On Their Own is written at a basic level so the general public can understand what is going on. I have been a mentor and advocate for foster children for a year now and found the book helpful and inspiring. The back part of the book has detailed information on what can be done to help this problem. Some of the kids I mentor will soon be turning 18 and this has allowed me some insight on what to do.
The book is amazing for someone who doesn't understand the foster care system. Even though I work with foster kids and understand some of the interworkings, it allowed me better understanding. I had my mom read the book as well. The forward by Jimmy Carter is amazing as well. Good read if you enjoy learning about social issues.
