With tuition waivers, foster youth finally getting the assist they need | Opinion

Rep. Julie A. Casimiro, a Democrat, represents District 31 in North Kingstown and Exeter. She serves as the chair of the House Oversight Children and Families Subcommittee.  Darlene Allen is the CEO and executive director of Adoption Rhode Island.

We want to thank Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island College President Jack Warner for listening to the voices that are, sadly, too often not heard. The voices are that of our foster youth who are about to “age out” of state care and enter the real world without the supports that other kids their age enjoy and utilize into adulthood.

For years, we have focused on Head Start, Early Head Start, pre-K and free day care for our youngest and most vulnerable children in state care.  We have invested heavily − meaning millions of dollars − in early childhood. And these investments are critical to supporting the development and well-being of our youngest, most vulnerable children. But we tend to forget about the kids in care as they get older.

That is, until recently.

More: Legislature finishes with votes on $13.9B budget, granny flats, criminal records

In 2021, we passed legislation to start tracking the graduation rates and achievement rates for kids in state care with the hope that this would help us put them on the path to higher education and future success.

And now, in 2024, a tremendous opportunity will be offered to our children aging out of foster care that will serve them for their entire lives.

This year’s state budget supports a pilot program at Rhode Island College to provide tuition waivers for youth aging out of state care. This is an amazing and generous opportunity for vulnerable young people. This is also a great investment in their future, and ours, and we are grateful that it was included in the budget.

More: Rhode Island's foster children still need our help | Opinion

This population of young people, when ignored and forgotten, are likely to become homeless, suffer food insecurities, become pregnant before the age of 21, become incarcerated, or worse. The statistics are truly alarming, so, let’s take care of them now − and not later at even greater expense to the taxpayers. The pilot program offers hope and a road for these youth to become successful, productive citizens.

Thank you, Speaker Shekarchi, Governor McKee and President Warner, for listening, and for investing in our most vulnerable youth. This was long overdue.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: With tuition waivers, foster youth finally getting the assist they need | Opinion