What Happens to Foster Kids When They Age Out? A System That Leaves Too Many Behind
There’s long been a public sentiment that children in foster care often get a raw deal. They lose their families, are shuffled from one unfamiliar home to another, and often lack basic stability or security. While foster care is intended to be a protective system, the reality is that many children suffer not only from the abuse or neglect that led to their removal, but also from the failures of the system that’s supposed to help them heal.
One of the most serious systemic failures happens after these children turn 18—when they age out of the system and are left to face adulthood alone.
Life After Foster Care: No Safety Net, No Support
Most young adults rely heavily on their families as they transition into independence. Whether it’s moving back home during college breaks, asking parents for help with a car repair, or getting guidance on job applications, most 18-year-olds have a support system to lean on.
But foster youth? Many don’t.
Once a foster child turns 18, they are legally an adult and “age out” of the system. That means:
- No more financial support from the state.
- No guaranteed housing.
- No long-term mentoring or adult guidance.
- Often, no family to turn to at all.
The result? Many of these young adults struggle with homelessness, unemployment, low education attainment, mental health challenges, and incarceration—all because they were never given a fair shot at stability or a nurturing adult relationship.
Transitioning Into Adulthood Without a Lifeline
Think about everything a teenager needs help with when entering adulthood:
- Learning to budget and manage money
- Finding safe housing
- Navigating healthcare
- Applying to college or vocational training
- Securing and holding a job
- Even basics like getting a driver’s license or filing taxes
These tasks are daunting enough with a parent’s help. For a former foster youth without a support system, they can feel insurmountable. And the state offers very limited transition services, most of which end at 21 or earlier.
Foster Care Is Not a Substitute for Family
While some children are removed from homes where abuse or neglect has occurred, we also know from years of experience that many parents lose their children not because they’re dangerous, but because they’re struggling. Poverty, housing insecurity, or a temporary crisis can lead to CPS involvement, even when the parent is loving and committed.
These are the families we fight for.
At The Kronzek Firm, we know that foster care should be a last resort—not the first response. Children belong with their families whenever it is safely possible, and the long-term harm of unnecessary separation is real.
We Fight to Keep Michigan Families Together
If you’re a parent facing accusations of abuse or neglect, and you’re afraid of losing your child to foster care, we can help. Our attorneys have decades of experience in CPS defense, child abuse investigations, parental termination cases, and family reunification efforts.
📞 Call The Kronzek Firm today at (866) 766-5245 for a confidential consultation. We’re available 24/7, including nights and weekends, to help parents across Michigan defend their rights and keep their families intact.
Because every child deserves a family… and every parent deserves a fair chance.