Special Topics
"On Their Own: What Happens to Kids When They Age
Out of the Foster Care System"
"We should dream of and plan for a day when fewer children require foster care. But until that day comes, we have a moral responsibility to prepare young people leaving foster care to become whole adults who can fulfill their potential and build bright and promising futures."
-President Jimmy Carter, Foreword
What others are saying about On Their Own:
- "On Their Own," Booklist, October 4, 2004 (PDF, 16KB)
- "Authors foster emotion in 'On Their Own,'" Las Vegas Sun, October 1, 2004 (PDF, 28KB)
- Graduation for Foster Children: An Uncertain Future–The Parenting World.com (PDF, 51KB)
- Martha Shirk: Close-up–Voices for Youth (PDF, 533KB)
- "On Their Own", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 12, 2004 (PDF, 32KB)
On Their Own Wins Major Literary Award
"On Their Own: What Happens to Kids When They Age Out of the Foster Care System” is a winner of the Pro Humanitate Literary Award, North America's premier literary award for the field of child welfare. The book was written by Martha Shirk, a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Gary Stangler, executive director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
Bestowed by the Center for Child Welfare Policy of the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare, the award recognizes literary works that "exemplify the intellectual integrity and moral courage required to transcend political and social barriers to promote "best practice" in the field of child welfare," according to Ronald C. Hughes, director of the center.
Another book, "Children in Foster Care," by James G. Barber and Paula H. Delfabbro, tied with "On Their Own" for the 2005 Daniel Douglas Schneider Book Award and Prize. The two books were selected by a panel of peers. The awards ceremony will take place September 30 at the Child Welfare League of America's New England Regional Training & National Child Care and Development Conference in Providence, R.I.
"On Their Own" (Westview Press, 2004) puts a human face on a largely invisible population. Shirk and Stangler tell the story through the lives of ten children who did not have a safety net once they were out of foster care but relied on survival skills. With a foreword by former President Jimmy Carter, the book also offers solutions, especially about education, health care, and employment.
View press release on 2005 award winners. (PDF, 145KB)
Eight ways to use On Their Own in your community (PDF, 57KB)
An On Their Own Discussion Guide for Youth, Caseworkers, Communities, and Concerned Citizens (PDF, 111KB)
