Fostering Advocates Arizona recently delivered a petition signed by nearly 600 people to Gov. Doug Ducey and Department of Child Safety Director Mike Faust asking for them to release federal COVID-19 relief funding to foster care youth who have aged out in the form of a $500 check.
They say the state has received more than $10 million in funding to help older and former foster youth through the pandemic but has distributed a small fraction of it. And the needs-based distribution model they’re using now is troubled.
This is a population that faces a host of challenges as they “age out” of the foster care system and try to tackle adulthood with often few resources or support system to help them along.
And it’s a population that’s close to the heart of DCS Director Faust.
The Show spoke with Faust, who was a foster kid himself. During his tenure at DCS, he has aimed to help kids who age out of the system to transition to life as adults.
They also spoke with TJ Fowler, who serves on Foster Advocates Arizona’s youth board and recently aged out of the system.
The Show reached out to the Governor's Office about this letter. Spokesperson C.J. Karamargin said this is a very important issue for the Governor’s Office and they are reviewing the request.
