Especially vulnerable to pregnancy: foster youth

[Alison J Stevens]

http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/teen_pregnancy/x233129918/Especi...

 

 

Especially vulnerable to pregnancy: foster youth

 

MY COMMENT

 

I have been dealing with at least three cases over the last few months where young girls placed in foster care have become pregnant.
One a sixteen year old has been moved at least 50 miles away from her family and friends, her baby is now six weeks old, and is old enough to instruct her own Solicitor, but has been told by her Social Worker that she has to continue with her Solicitor that was instructed by the Local Authority, pertaining to her own Care Proceedings with regards to her own Parents.
I have managed to get in contact with her, to explain that she is gillick competent,old enough to instruct somebody by herself, which she is now in the process of doing, her baby is six weeks of age, and her present Solicitor seems to be pandering to the LA, so hopefully the new Solicitor who has excellent credibility may be of some help, for this 16 year old to keep her baby.
In another case another young girl has become pregnant twice while in the care of the Local Authority, the first baby was an adoption target, and has been forcibly adopted, she has been allowed to keep the second child.
YOUNG VULNERABLE GIRLS ARE BEING LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND THIS PREDICAMENT IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT WORSE