Topic : 07/26 The Dr. Phil Foundation Helping Kids

aging out of the foster care system is a HUGE issue.  once foster kids age out, sooo many of their resources are cut off.  they literally leave their foster home and are out on the streets.  they dont have any resources (medical, financial, job training, etc). 

as a project for one of my social work classes, we put together a resource guide for kids aging out of the foster care system in our county.  topics include health services, mental health, sexual education, life skills programs, school-to-work programs, developmentally disabled programs, higher education, transporation, housing, food, and information and resources for foster parents.  once we had the books printed, we gave them to case managers, foster parents, and school counselors. 

i think it would be wonderful for people in other cities/counties/states to do this.  children aging out really need all the help they can get.  we cant just drop them the minute they turn 18 (or 21). 

Everytime I see shows on foster children, my heart seriously aches.  We have always wanted to be foster parents, but we do not have the room in our very small home.  It's so frustrating because we have so much love and stability to offer.  We are working towards a long term goal of having a large enough home to be able to open it up to children.  In the meantime we started a program to help children overcome adversity through literature.  I am very grateful to foundations like the one Dr. Phil has to bless these very deserving children.  Thank you for being so giving to these kids!

I watched todays show and really enjoyed it. I wish I had the extra money to contribute to the foundation but I don't.  However Dr. Phil I think you misspoke when you mentioned the college Jordan attends.  I thought he was going to SMU here in Texas not USC in California. I watched the show where you and Robin traveled to Texas to settle Jordan in at SMU.  Continued luck with the foundation and all the marvelous work. And thanks for caring for the ones that might slip through the cracks otherwise.

Turkeybaby

Idenify with Zakiya so much and felt her pain.  I'm from Toronto, Canada and had a similiar childhood being in and out of several foster homes from time of birth to age 18.  Have never known any blood relatives.  I also felt as a kid very ashamed of being a foster child and have never been able to overcome this shame as an adulthood and am not in my 40's.  I've always thought I

was no good as didn't get adopted by anyone.  Have suffered from low self-esteem all my life and have other emotional difficulties.  Have lot of problems trusting people and am overy sensitive to

rejection and abandoment.  Had lots of therapy as young adult but my past was never discussed by many physiatrists had.  Have a  lot of anger and they can't deal with that and usually fired me. I also ended up an alcoholic and have been recovering from that for past 10 years with many relapses. Would luv to have Dr. Phil analyse me and offer some help and advice that might help

me have a healthier mental life for what's leff of it.  Glad to see this topic was on so general public

has idea of what foster kids go through and how it affects their lives forever.  Wonder if there's help

for people like us is in feeling like important and wondering who you are as have no identity.

Dear Dr. Phil,

I can not express my thanks for today's show! As a fosterparent of more than 100 children for over 16 years it is so nice to get a pat on the back!

All that is ever in the news are the "bad" things that might happen, the negative things. Constantly looked down on as "less than human" because we are "paid" to care for these children. Let me tell you, $17.50 per child per day does not make for a lot of steak at the end of the week. In my state we can have up to 6 children in our home and that INCLUDES our own.

I am so very pleased some our finer Fostermoms are seen and praised for their never ending love and care for children of all colors. All of us struggle everyday to see our kids fed and clothed and do whatever we can get them a few extras from time to time.

Thank you for your help for this fine woman. I too, am a single fostermom, so I know what a precious gift and help you have given her. Loving children is a gift, thank you for saying thankyou!