, several judges and a staffer at the Texas Office of Mental Health Coordination, adding, “It is difficult to stay in my lane when I know that these children will be on the streets immediately facing life and death decisions that they can neither comprehend or absorb.”
One key shortcoming is access to supervised independent living placements, a preferred option among older foster youth because it allows them independence with minimal caseworker oversight. A state-run work group is exploring ways to improve access to the program, which continues to have unfilled beds because of what youth advocates describe as burdensome entrance requirements.
In another case, a 16-year-old who had suffered a psychotic break was placed first in a residential treatment center and then moved to a step-down facility until she turned 18. After entering extended foster care and living in what Magliolo described as an unhealthy and exploitative relationship with a teacher’s aide, she was abandoned at a hospital.
Situations Magliolo described in her letter are “so accurate it hurts,” said Meredith Parekh, supervising attorney for the foster care team at Disability Rights Texas. “This is a stereotype about kids with disabilities — that they can’t do things or learn things,” said Black. “This is the population that most needs these classes.”