FOUR Teens Graduate Early
According to the U.S. Department of Education there are nearly a half-million children and youth in foster care throughout the country. Research shows that these children are significantly more likely to drop out of school; and according to the National Foster Youth Institute, only about 50% graduate high school. Of course this also means they are less likely to attend or graduate from college. For these reasons alone, we could not be more proud of all of the high school graduates we have here at the Children’s Attention Home.
Last month, we had not one or two, not three, but FOUR seniors to graduate from various local high schools early! Our Social Worker, Cathy Bolduc, expressed that “as a team member at the Children's Attention Home, it is such a privilege to see a resident complete high school. It is a great accomplishment for them.” Something as common as getting a high school diploma may not seem like a huge deal to many, but to us, it means the world to see our children beat the odds set against them and not become statistics.
One of the most frequent questions we get about teens that are finishing high school is, “What happens next?” Well, just like any family, it all depends on the child and the goals they have set for themselves. Our children will either pursue higher education or begin working full-time. These two paths help ensure that they have a safety net when they prepare to exit our care. “They will continue to attend Independent Living classes on topics such as, budgeting, healthy relationships, substance abuse awareness, housing options, and many other topics”, according to Ms. Cathy. “This is a small snapshot of some of the things we focus on. The goal is to empower and equip them with the skills they need to transition to independence and live successful lives.”
Ms. Teri Wyman, the Home’s Education Coordinator, reports that at least three of the four graduates will be attending two-year and four-years colleges beginning as early as this month!
It truly takes a village to make accomplishments like these possible. The Home could not provide all of the necessary resources to give these teens the steeping stool they need to complete school on time, more or less early, without your support. From monetary donations, school supply donations, to mentors taking their time to guide them, our children are incredibly fortunate to have such a great second chance.