Opinion- Bleak Transition: Why Somerset and Kentucky Must Step Up for Foster Youth

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Somerset, Kentucky (SPA)--- In Kentucky, turning 18 should mark the beginning of adulthood, not the start of a fight for survival. Yet for too many young people leaving foster care, that’s exactly what it is. According to Kentucky Youth Advocates, roughly 20% of youth who age out of the foster system become homeless. Here in Somerset, that reality is more than a statistic—it’s a neighbor’s child, a former classmate, a young person we’ve all seen but may not know is struggling.

Without the support of a family, these young adults are expected to find housing, land a job, and manage life on their own. Most of us had parents, grandparents, or other relatives to lean on when we took our first steps into adulthood. Foster youth aging out of the system often have no such safety net.

Part of the problem is systemic instability. Many foster youth face multiple placements, switching homes and schools several times before they reach 18. These disruptions, according to FosterVA, can leave lasting emotional scars and make the leap to independent living even harder. Kentucky has created extended foster care programs, but too many youth don’t know about them—or find the process too confusing to navigate.

Somerset and Pulaski County can be part of the solution. We can push for state policies that give foster youth more than just a goodbye at 18. We can connect them with affordable housing, local job training programs, and financial literacy education. We can create mentorship networks through churches, civic groups, and nonprofits to offer steady guidance from those who’ve been there.

This isn’t just about compassion—it’s about community strength. Preventing homelessness saves money, reduces strain on emergency services, and creates productive citizens who contribute to our economy. Somerset is known for stepping up when our neighbors are in need. Foster youth deserve that same commitment.

Here’s how we can act:

• Contact your state legislators and urge them to increase funding for extended foster care and life skills programs.
• Support local organizations working with youth transitioning out of care.
• Volunteer as a mentor or consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
• Talk about the issue—awareness is the first step to change.

We can’t afford to let 20% of Kentucky’s foster youth walk into adulthood without a home or a plan. Somerset has always been a community that cares. Now is the time to prove it again—by giving every young person the chance not just to survive, but to thrive.

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