[stevenstwin]

Well, the very latest on my boy is his room-mate. A KNOWN drug user, dropout, with a police record -and the Social Worker says he really doesn't see ANY reason why he shouldn't be A's room mate. Whatever, I've given up fighting their decisions. But this other story made me sad - I teach a kid I call "Cory". He's First Nations. I know he's currently in a semi-independent living situation, and I know it's nt working - much like A's story. What I DIDN'T know until today is that he was the son of a fellow teacher for TWELVE YEARS. Since he's Native he couldn't be adopted - so the SAME deal as my kid - the minute he turned 16 the Social Workers pushed to get him into independent living! and at that point, it sure as heck sounds like a great deal to the kid - on your own, set your own rules, etc. This program was originally intended for kids that really didn't already HAVE a home, since you know how hard it is to place teens, and not great to be in group homes. But they are now using it very routinely with any kid who hits 16 in some misguided belief that it is better to "transition" them before they age out :-( I feel that A's situation is so tragic, and I only had him for between 2 and 3 years. To have a love a kid from the age of 4 and then watch this happen is awful. And, by the way, he cut these two out of his life completely and has had NO contact ever since...mixed up more with bios on the res.