SILP

Alexis Barries’ story is a sadly familiar one to youth who have experienced foster care in California. At age 2, she entered the foster care system; at 8, she was told by her guardians that she’d end up in prison like her parents.

by Jeremy Loudenback Proposed state legislation scheduled for debate in the California Assembly’s Human Services Committee on Tuesday aims to bring pregnant and parenting foster youth a much-needed housing alternative. Assembly Bill 2668, a new bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, would provide transition-age foster youth with a special, modified version of the state’s supervised independent living placement (SILP).

The number of foster youth in California who age out at 18 has plummeted in the past two years, suggesting that its federal partnership to expand foster care until 21 has had a significant impact.