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(Paramus, NJ) July 9, 2010 - For most teenagers, their 18th birthday is an exciting milestone. They will be graduating from high school, enjoying summer trips to the shore with their friends and counting the days until they go to college. But for adolescents in foster care, this time in their lives is often filled with anxiety. Once they reach their 18th birthday, they face the prospect of "aging out" of foster care and moving onto independent living with little or no family help and few support services available.
Children's Aid and Family Services has launched a fundraising drive on behalf of its Thomas R.S. Burgin Parents Fund aimed at supporting college-bound teens that have aged out of foster care. The Redlich Horwitz Foundation, a New York and New Jersey-based non-profit organization, will match the first $20,000 raised by the agency.
Although teens in foster care in the State of New Jersey are eligible for subsidized tuition, room and board, they have no other means of financial assistance to fund clothing, toiletries or other living expenses, including rent during vacation time. In addition to providing a stipend for such expenses each year, the Fund also purchases each teen a laptop computer to aid in their studies. Each teen in the agency's care also receives a care package containing basic essentials such as linens, towels, a luggage set and laundry hamper. The college stipends costs $3,000 apiece, the laptop computers are $1,000 each and care packages cost $420 each.
The Thomas R.S. Burgin Parents Fund also provides emergency financial assistance to teenagers who were formerly in foster care with the agency; the awards are tailored to meet the individual needs of the applicants. Examples include assistance with car repairs, a loan to cover the deposit for an apartment rental or to purchase a suit for a job interview. "The transition to college and adulthood is difficult for most adolescents, even those who have the emotional and financial support of their parents," says Bob Jones, Ph.D., president & CEO of Children's Aid and Family Services. "The children in our care face huge challenges as they enter adulthood, and it can take very little for their lives to unravel. The financial assistance from the Thomas R.S. Burgin Parents Fund gives them the ability to focus on their studies without the additional pressure of having to support themselves. An education will give them a solid foundation and a greater chance for success and self-sufficiency. We also want our teens to know we are their 'family,' here to give them support when they need it."
Children's Aid and Family Services has a successful track record in preparing its teens for the future. The vast majority graduate high school and go on to post-secondary education. Additionally, the agency continues to provide critical services, including counseling and mentoring, for the adolescents after they age out of foster care.
To make a donation to the Thomas R.S. Burgin Parents Fund, call Liz Mason at 201.261.2800, click here, or send a check (payable to Children's Aid and Family Services, with "Burgin Fund" on the subject line) to the development department, Children's Aid and Family Services, 200 Robin Road, Paramus, NJ 07652.
Children's Aid and Family Services is one of the leading nonprofit human services organizations serving northern New Jersey. The agency is fully accredited and has served the community for more than 110 years. Its mission is to preserve, protect and, when needed, provide families. Motivated by compassion for vulnerable children, young adults, frail elderly and their families, it provides high-quality and innovative services that meet their social, educational and emotional needs. For more information on Children's Aid and Family Services, call 201.261.2800 or visit www.cafsnj.org. | 
