Grand Jury reports foster youth in San Mateo County need more mentors
Local youths who have lived through foster care say ongoing mentorship is essential to their success.
After Jasean Edison’s aunt gave him up, he lived in five or six group homes between the ages of 15 and 18, at which point he left foster care.
After Jasean Edison’s aunt gave him up, he lived in five or six group homes between the ages of 15 and 18, at which point he left foster care.
“I never met my dad, and my mom wasn’t stable,” Edison said. “I guess she wanted to live her young life.”
At 17, he met his mentor through the Court Appointed Special Advocates.
“He helped me through my difficultness; he invited me to be part of his family,” said Edison, 20, who talks to his mentor almost daily.
“If I didn’t have him in my life, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” said Edison, who has a part-time job setting up sound systems for concerts and plans to enroll in college this fall.
But some of Edison’s peers didn’t fare so well.
Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/peninsula/2011/06/foster-care-youths-san-mateo-county-need-more-mentors#ixzz1Rozfvbcb