Lecture Notes: Foster Care-to-Prison Pipeline

Introduction

• Location: Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington
• Topic: Discussion on the foster-care-to-prison pipeline
• Participants:
  • Former foster youth inmates
  • Department of Children, Youth and Families officials
  • Treehouse representatives
  • Retired King County Juvenile Court Judge
  • Community members

Foster Care-to-Prison Pipeline

• Inevitability of Prison:
  • Many former foster youths now imprisoned felt that ending up in prison was inevitable.
  • Childhood abuse or neglect led to foster care, unstable homes, and ultimately, incarceration.
• Statistics:
  • 40% of youths in juvenile rehabilitation have experienced foster care.
  • 80% of those youths have been investigated by Child Protective Services.

Challenges in Foster Care

• Educational Barriers:
  • Significant lack of education among foster care alumni.
  • Many did not advance beyond eighth grade.
  • Education in juvenile facilities is termed "constitutionally inadequate."
  • Per-child funding in institutional schools is lower despite high needs.
• Aging Out of Foster Care:
  • Many foster youths are left without support upon turning 18.
  • Lack of job skills and support systems when transitioning out of foster care.

Conference Insights

• State-Raised Group:
  • Inmates shared personal experiences and facilitated discussions.
  • Emphasized the need for better protection and nurturing by the state.
• Mentorship Importance:
  • Highlighted the critical role of consistent adult mentorship (e.g., Treehouse).
  • Many inmates experienced positive mentoring only after incarceration.

Institutional Challenges and Solutions

• Juvenile Justice System:
  • New state laws aim to reduce juveniles charged as adults.
  • Youths can stay in juvenile facilities until age 25.
• Funding and Staffing Issues:
  • Insufficient resources for necessary youth services.
  • Need for special post-secondary funding for foster care alumni.

Recommendations and Future Steps

• Strengthening Families:
  • Reduction in foster care numbers by supporting family unity.
  • Fewer children removed from homes would decrease need for foster parents.
• Institutional Racism:
  • Recognition of overrepresentation of Black and brown children in foster care.
  • Need to address biases in child welfare, schools, and courts.
• Review of Life Sentences:
  • Consideration of sentence reviews for those who entered prison young.

Closing Thoughts

• Call for Change:
  • The importance of a review process for foster youth in prison long-term.
  • Desire for a different narrative and outcome for affected individuals.

This event highlighted systemic challenges and opportunities for reform in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.