Older children and young adults "aging out" of the state foster care system need a range of services - from educational assistance to mentoring to counseling - to ensure they make a successful transition to the adult world, according to testimony from Michigan’s human services director.

"Research indicates children leaving the foster care system at age 18 or 19 are often not well equipped to handle adult responsibilities," said Marianne Udow, director of Michigan Department of Human Services. Udow made her comments to a U.S. Senate briefing in Washington, D.C. May 19.

"While children in foster care can count on relationships they have built with birth and foster families, they continue to need assistance with education, personal support and sometimes counseling after they attain adult age to succeed."

Udow cited a range of services being provided in Michigan to help the state's foster children including:

• Michigan's Youth in Transition program that provides independent living services including educational training vouchers – stipends that can be used for college tuition – housing assistance, life skills training and other tools to achieve self-sufficiency.
• A new state project to recruit and develop adult mentors for young adults leaving foster cares.
• The "Opportunity Passport" – a collaboration with the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative to leverage foundation support so youngsters can build a nest egg for housing, education or other needs.

Udow made her remarks in a Capitol Hill briefing session sponsored jointly by the National Governor's Association and American Public Human Services Association. Recent policy recommendations of Washington-based APHSA call on the U.S. Congress to expand its financial commitment to children and families served in the child welfare system.

"The state and federal governments work in partnership to serve children and families," Udow said. "In addition to seeking support from private foundations, as we are doing with the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, states need more funding and more flexibility in funding at the federal level to help children achieve their full potential."