Michigan foster kids struggle under system that gives ‘nothing’ after aging out

Brianna Carsley, a former foster child, faced challenges after graduating from high school and entering college. Despite being accepted at Michigan State University and receiving multiple scholarships, Carsley struggled to find a doctor and faced health issues, leading her to medically withdraw from her studies. A survey of Michigan foster youth found that only 1% earned a postsecondary degree by their 21st birthday, a stark contrast to the national average of 10%.

The state of Michigan operates under a consent decree with federal monitoring, and a legal settlement from 2008 aims to improve the care of its roughly 9,000 foster youth. However, Rep. Kathy Schmaltz believes that young people aging out of the system lack support networks and housing, expecting them to be successful without adequate resources.

Experts and advocates suggest that small issues can derail postsecondary education, and Michigan's foster care system is described as a leaky pipeline with many places where young people can fall out before reaching college.