The American government is an incredible social experiment that has brought equality and justice to millions of its citizens. However, unprecedented access to information has shed light on some of the sore spots of our democracy. One of those issues I'd like to shed some light on is the appalling failure to underprivileged youth our government continues to oblige. I want to make clear that some have had entirely different experiences with the support services currently offered but I am simply sharing the struggles of those I have been fortunate to meet.
The DCF
If a citizen is a teenager in an abusive home environment the realities of their situation are pretty grim. The typical government remedy to a teen reaching out for a new living situation is for it to be handled by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). While I was a teenager, I participated in a few programs that gave me firsthand experience with teens dealing with this organization. It is a typical cost-cutting, one-size fits all bureaucracy. Decisions are often cold and impersonal. Many outcomes result in either reuniting with the abusive family or being forced into a corrupt foster system in which grotesquely unqualified foster "parents" collect government paychecks for each child they agree to foster. Many of the teens I knew who were in these foster "families" did not receive meals, clothing, and were frequently subjected to abuse. An adolescent girl who had been sexually assaulted by a teen boy in the foster house reached out to her foster mother and was threatened with physical abuse and told to "get over it." While I knew her, the situation was never resolved. Many of the kids in these programs don't speak out because they know it is their only option. A majority of kids I was in contact with wished they had never reached out in the first place.
Healthcare
While the healthcare debate in the United States continues to be one of the most contentious debates in our political system, it seems the realities of what a private insurance system means is lost on most of the country. Yes, there are free healthcare alternatives and I encourage anyone in an emancipated or similar circumstance to seek them out. The trouble is these options are often loaded with fine print and bizarre stipulations which seem to be aimed at keeping as many kids off the programs as possible. On top of that, when the programs are advertised as "free or low- cost" they will most likely be the latter. "Low cost" to a politician and a teenager living on their own are two entirely different things. When we decide that only those who can afford healthcare deserve healthcare these kids are often the ones hurt the most. In a system where everyone pays a tax for an inclusive healthcare system these kids would have access to the same level of care as the politicians currently keeping them out.
Education
Getting good grades while in poverty, dealing with a mental illness, being abused, or all of the above is not an easy proposition. However, some kids manage to do it. Unfortunately, even if a teen manages to achieve good grades the absurd price of a college education often keeps them from receiving the education their peers enjoy. If a young adult with no support can make it to college they are left to pay the enormous bill themselves. And without credit, getting loans to assist them is next to impossible. When a student is forced to work close to full time this keeps them from reaching their full potential in the classroom. Think about this; In a country where opportunity is supposed to be equal, why is it these people seem to be at such a disadvantage?
Conclusion
I Believe that many of our country's underprivileged youth simply do not have the means to influence our government. This keeps them from getting the support, education, and careers they need to overcome their daunting obstacles. When we deny an intelligent teenager with an interest in medicine a right to a good education we are possibly denying ourselves a cure for cancer. When we deny a teenager with a passion for the arts a decent wage we may be missing out on our society's next great work. It feels as though America judges people based on their situation. If we decide that a young person in poverty is just another burden on our welfare system then that is all they will ever have the chance to be. But if we look past someone's situation and give them the resources to start a better life, then we will have millions more citizens contributing to society in a meaningful way. The United States does have decent programs to support the needy but they are simply not enough. If we are ever going to fix these problems we need to care about our nations kids as if they are our own family. Then, we can take the steps necessary to create a truly inclusive America.
