JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

FOSTER KIDS CAN CHECK IT OUT

By Supervisor Greg Cox

The holidays can be a lonely time for abused and neglected children who have been placed in foster care for their own well-being. Like many of us, foster children in these circumstances often seek escape in the joy of reading or in the wonder of new discoveries on the Internet. While books and computer access are free and readily available at San Diego County Libraries, for foster youth getting a library card and checking out a book has proven to be one more impossible challenge in their difficult young lives. Not any more, thanks to a plan that Supervisor Ron Roberts and I initiated that was approved by the Board of Supervisors earlier this month.

In order to get a library card, all children under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian act as co-signers on the card. Foster children who are separated from their parents often move from guardian to guardian, sometimes in and out of many different homes across the County. These youngsters face a myriad of other challenges that range from multiple changes in schools, unfamiliar people, unfamiliar places, and a system that cannot provide them with the everyday support that they need to live a normal, healthy life.

Because of the transitory nature of foster care, it isn't always easy for foster parents to help foster youth access library cards. That was why we gave the County itself the ability to act as co-signer for the cards. With the County acting as guardian for foster children who want library cards, the door of learning at County libraries will open to these kids in a whole new way. Now, when the County's Bookmobile stops at the Polinsky Children's Center, the County's emergency shelter for children, young people can board the Bookmobile and read, but can't check out a book to finish later. With a library card in hand, these kids could board the Bookmobile ready and able to check out an armload of books.

The County's Child Welfare Department and the San Diego County Library will soon implement the program to make County Library cards available to foster youth and, most importantly, will work with the other library systems in the region to implement a similar program.

For more information on how you can support abused and neglected children during the holidays and throughout the year, please visit the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation at www.capfsd.org.