A Delaware foster care initiative takes the national stage Monday at the White House.
The Delaware Center for Justice’s Delaware Youth Opportunities Initiative is touting its “Ready by 21” program as a model for foster care programs around the country.
Julie Miller, the program’s coordinator, says its goal is to help give a stable environment to those who age out of foster care when they turn 18-years-old.
“It provides stipends for the young people so that they can afford things like rent, electricity, things that they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise," said Miller. "It’s just to help them so that they can go to school and go to work and just be successful adults at life.”
Miller adds it has drawn attention from other states around the country.
“It is recognized by the federal government as being in their model, though we did not extend foster care to 21. Other states are extending their foster care to 21 and they’re using what we did in Delaware to model their system,” said Miller.
Miller says "Ready by 21" still has a long way to go, but that they’ve seen it produce improvement in high school graduation rates and employment.
DCJ’s executive director Ashley Biden, daughter of Vice President Joe Biden will also speak at the event.
They’ll join the vice president, along with Jaime Foxx and Cameron Diaz for a screening of the latest Anne movie.