The Institute of Rural Development, a 501-C-3 non profit held the second annual foster youth summit on October 24 in collaboration with the Casey Family Foundation/San Antonio Field Office.

The mission of IRD is that we believe that every human being has dignity and society’s action as a consciousness of kind sometimes hurts the very core of human dignity and existence by the actions we take and the laws we implement or fail to implement or fail to acknowledge.

We have in our history norms established by majorities that might not have known the ways of the wind and in the process kept human life from developing and maybe providing the answer to the many questions we have about life or providing the answer to the many ills that plague us as humans.

By improving the quality of life for everyone, we might be able to see the flowering side of the many who are persecuted, abused, neglected, ignored, judged, punished, scorned, and eliminated because of race, color, culture, religion, creed, gender, class, disability, and preference that otherwise could teach us something new.

Foster youth in the state of Texas face many challenges as they approach their eighteenth birthday, and the greatest of all challenges is learning to live independently.

However, research shows that these youth are far from ready to live an independent and successful life.

Most children in foster care have been there for several years, and all come from troubled families, backgrounds, and neighborhoods.

Nationwide, over seventy percent of foster youth who age out enter the criminal justice system and many are already a part of it.

The probability of youth ageing out and becoming homeless is also very high.

Typically, foster youth have low educational achievement levels; have mental health problems; have self-esteem problems; have limited social and financial resources; and little employment experience.

IRD is the only foster youth independent transitional living center in region 11 dedicated to foster youth who age out of care with the Texas Department of Family Services.

We presently have three foster youth living at the center.

Region 11 is made up of 19 counties in South Texas including the Coastal Bend.

In 2008, there were 656182 total youth living in the 19 county area of region 11 where our transitional living center is located. Of these, about 10,000 enter the child protective service system as a referral for abuse or neglect or both.

In 2008, there were 9164 confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect in region 11.

There are a total 369 youth ages 14 to 18 presently in foster care throughout region 11 and not counting those under the age of 14.

The ones ages 16 to 18 are fast approaching aging out of service and in many cases do not have any where to go on their 18th birthday.

On October 24 the Institute of Rural Development in coordination with the Casey Foundation/San Antonio Field Office came to together for the second annual October Foster Youth Summit to provide foster youth an opportunity to exchange dialogue, provide input into the many obstacles facing them, and develop solutions to those obstacles.

Mr. Ernest Richards and Mr. Gary Urdiales from the Casey Foundation Field Office in San Antonio brought foster youth alumni for a unique exchange of dialogue regarding the plight of foster youth as they age out of care.

In attendance were staff from SERCO Youth Services, Coastal Bend College, and Texas A&M University- Kingsville.

A super fajita, rice, and beans lunch was provided for all attendees and staff from the Casey Foundation then attended the Javelina homecoming game.