Are Newcastle teens leaving foster care too early?

It's claimed the care system is turning its back on Newcastle's most vulnerable young people.

One in three young people are leaving foster care 'too young' at 16 or 17-years-old.

This is despite a survey showing that half the people of Newcastle believe 21, or older, is the right age to move out of the family home.

The report 'Too Much, Too Young' comes from the charity Action for Children, which says vulnerable young people do not get the help they need early enough.

"Young people who have had traumatic early lives, who struggle with learning disabilities or mental health issues are the ones who need the most care, but the state is turning its back on them.

It’s ludicrous that teenagers who are still dealing with the legacy of abuse and neglect have to cope with adult responsibilities, like building a stable home, at an age when most of their peers are supported by parents.

If we don’t rethink care so it acts less like a system and more like a parent then these problems won’t go away."  – SIR TONY HAWKHEAD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN

Action for Children is calling on all political parties to rethink the role of the state as a parent for children in care.

Source:
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/update/2014-10-15/are-newcastle-teens-leaving-foster-care-too-early/

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