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WHEREAS, every year in the United States, 20,000 teenagers turn 19 years old with no family support system to help them transition to independent adulthood, driving a 1 in 3 chance that they will end up homeless in adulthood ; and,
WHEREAS, each year in Allegheny County, 80% of the foster teen who reach age 18 leave the child welfare system, even though education, housing and healthcare support are available to them until age 21, and of those who age out at 18, half do not graduate from high school. Of the females, 40% will have babies within 4 years and half of the males end up in the criminal justice system; and,
WHEREAS, compounding the problem of teenage homelessness is a myriad of physical, emotional and psychological challenges confronting young people today, including physical problems stemming from abuse and neglect, depression and post traumatic stress disorder. In addition, these youth lack basic skills required for even the most menial of jobs ; and,
WHEREAS ,foster teens and young adults who participate in supervised and unsupervised independent living programs who receive guidance in developing critical life skills like budgeting, setting educational goals and maintaining employment are better positioned for long term self-sufficiency with good outcomes in Allegheny County ; and,
WHEREAS, established over 100 years ago, the Ward Home's mission is to train at risk young adults in practical life skills in safe, nurturing environments in order to live independently as effective , contributing members of society; and,
WHEREAS, the Ward Home, established originally h as a home for children in the evolving turn of the century, steel driven economy of Pittsburgh, has become a multifaceted resource for foster teens and young adults with 3 supervised independent facilities for teen girls, teen boys and teen moms in Friendship, Wilkinsburg and East McKeesport as well as an in- home service that teaches di...
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