So many youth in care of Peel Children’s Aid have an inspiring determination to succeed as young adults. Unfortunately, they face a number of obstacles, making their ability to succeed almost next to impossible. These include:
- the struggle to develop and sustain friendships as a result of moving from home to home. And not just foster homes; much of a teen’s transient lifestyle begins while still with their parents and continues after they are on their own.
- being typecast in school as ‘trouble makers’ or ‘underachievers’, resulting in fewer opportunities to excel in academics or extra-curricular activities
- being more likely to drop out of school, to be un- or underemployed, to be homeless, to be involved in criminal activities, to be on social assistance or have mental health issues. The high school completion rate for kids in care is a shocking 40%, a major contrast to the 79% provincial average.
From pursuing a post-secondary education to managing a budget, The Futures Fund supports programs that provide youth with the tools they need to beat the odds and lead independent, productive lives as young adults in our community.