By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-994632.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Governor Rick Snyder is to sign a law Tuesday that will provide some continued state assistance for college students who grew up in the foster care system. We have more from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta.
Hundreds of kids in foster care "age out" every year when they turn 18. They lose their housing subsidy and medical coverage. Jack Kresnak of the advocacy group Michigan's Children says that has held back many former foster kids making the difficult transition to adulthood.
"This will help the foster kids -- who we all have a legal and a moral responsibility for - actually make it in life and I actually think we're going to see a lot more positive outcomes because of this law," he says.
Kresnak says he would like the law to be changed in the future to let foster kids who do not opt for college but later change their minds qualify for assistance. He says colleges can also do more to help former foster children succeed.
He cites Western Michigan University's residential program as one that's kept a lot of former foster kids from dropping out.