The role of case managers for emancipated foster youth

The role of case managers for emancipated foster youth

Name

Institution

The role of case managers for emancipated foster youth

Introduction

Emancipation also referred to as aging out means the specific age (usually age of 18) that a foster youth attains and is discharged from being part of the foster care system. To ensure that emancipated youth become productive as well as be self-sufficient adults they require quality employment, access to health care, have safe housing and education (Delgado et al, 2007). Commitment to a loving and supportive family is important. The family provides encouragement to youths as face challenges of life. Case managers are important to foster youth as they provide support in their lives by design services and systems that assist emancipated youth acquire employment, safe housing, health care and quality education.

Literature review

Education is the main foundation stone for a prosperous adult life for emancipated foster youths. Unfortunately, as Delgado et al (2007) reports, only half of the foster youths who enroll for high school education complete and only 20% of those who attain high school education pursue postsecondary education. Yet 70% of non foster children complete high school education and 60% proceed to postsecondary education. Case manager can help reduce these disparities. According Delgado et al (2007) is the duty of a case manager to ensure that foster youths under his/her care get high school education and further access post secondary education. They should facilitate the youths to access scholarships, bursaries and a place to stay during school holidays adds Delgado et al (2007). These are necessary resources for a proper academic life. Success of foster youth is also attributed to strong mentorship and support system. Delgado et al (2007) believe that the case manage can help the youths to chose appropriate mentors or act as mentors and encourage the youths to pursue their education.  In sum, case manager act as parent and must take pride in helping foster youths to achieve their academic goals.

Foster youths are disadvantaged in the job market. This disadvantage is pegged on low educational attainment.  In this regard, case manager must find placement opportunities for the foster youths in addition to seeing them through school. According to Hook (2010), Case managers can use their connections with other organizations to secure placement and employment opportunities for their youths. Organizations that play a fundamental role in the emancipation of foster youths are linked to each other and other different organizations (Hook 2010). Case manager can exploit this links to get meaningful employment for the foster youths.

However, the first step in ensuring that the foster youth secure meaningful employment is educating them (Hook, 2010).

Case manager being in charge of the foster youth’s healthcare must be responsible for his/her health. Case managers should always be updated and participate in making critical decisions on the health of foster youths. Pearson (n.d.) notes that case managers should collaborate with caregivers and doctors to provide the foster youths with adequate.  According to Pearson (n.d.) every development stage presents varied challenge to a child, therefore, since a case manger has known the youth for a considerable length of time he/she can share with care giver or physician the health history of the youth. This history is.............