Their lives, their words, their voices: why we should listen and what we can do.

Permanency: a priority for youth

In June, the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks (FBCYICN) released their 2016 YouthSpeak Research Report. It’s the result of two years of consultation with hundreds of BC youth in and from foster care between the ages of 14 and 24. In the report, youth identify the major issues they face. The top issue is one that’s especially close to our hearts here at the Adoptive Families Association of BC: the need for permanency.

In the report, youth in and from care speak for themselves about what matters to them and why. Here are some excerpts that explain how they see permanency and why it’s so important to them.

Safety, stability, connection, community

“Young people most commonly identified connections—such as with adults, peers, culture and community—as the most important issue that has affected them. They also commonly identified stability… and financial issues.” (p. 27)

“[Young people] said the lack of physical permanency significantly impacts their ability to build friendships, find stability at school, participate in community activities like sports and dance, find and keep jobs.” (p. 28)

Permanency makes a positive difference

“Young people who moved less while in care…

  • Had fewer mental health diagnoses (compared to those who moved more)
  • Were more likely to be employed
  • Were more likely to have enough money to pay their bills and buy needed clothes

Among young people who had been in foster care, those who felt comfortable talking to their foster parents if they had a serious problem….

  • Were less likely to have missed out on accessing needed mental health care (26% vs. 51% who did not feel comfortable talking to their foster parents)
  • Were less likely to have left high school before graduating
  • Were less likely to report challenges accessing post-secondary education” (p. 28)

Recommendations from youth

“In playing the role of family, [social] workers and foster parents should be allowed to love their youth and foster permanent connections with them.

Because social workers and foster parents may not play the family role forever, emphasis on early and ongoing, youth-directed permanency planning should happen for each young person to identify and maintain relationships with all those who do and could love the young person over the course of their lives.

Youth in care should experience longer-term stability in their placements and in their healthy relationships with foster parents, social workers and other important people in their lives.” (p. 29)

We’re listening

At The Belonging Network, we believe in the importance of listening to youth in and from foster care, responding to their needs, and empowering them to live healthy adult lives. Our Speak-Out Youth group and AgedOut.com are two ways we do that.

The Speak-Out Youth Group is a group of youth-in-care, former youth-in-care and adoptees between 13 – 24 years old. The purpose of the Speak-Out group, as outlined by its members, is to send a positive message about permanency and teen adoption to the greater community; to create a safe space where young people can talk about adoption and permanence options; and to create resources for other young people about permanency and adoption. Learn more about the Speak-Out Youth group at www.speakoutyouthzone.com.

AgedOut.com is a website for young adults who were in government care in BC. It’s an up-to-date warehouse of information on resources and services available to young adults and a learning tool to help people feel empowered as they leave care. Learn more at www.agedout.com.

Excerpts from the 2016 YouthSpeak Report were reprinted with the permission of the FBCYICN. Learn more and read the whole report at www.fbcyicn.ca (search for “YouthSpeak”).