Steppin' Out offers safety net for foster youth

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

It's not unusual for a college student to call home and say, "Hey, Mom, I'm out of money!"

Or, she might need an old couch, help with a rental deposit or Mom's recipe for tuna casserole. In any case, the phone line home is a lifeline when it comes to those little emergencies for the emerging adult.

But, what if no one's on the other end of the line?

That's the case for 20,000 young people who "age out" of foster care each year nationwide. When these youth turn 18, they're not foster children anymore, and they are responsible for themselves--a scary prospect for most.

In the last few years, however, a homegrown nonprofit has been helping Larimer County young people who are caught in this predicament. "We try to do what parents would do," said Alyce Kaehler, chair of Steppin' Out, Inc. That means making sure these young people have basic necessities, and bailing them out when things don't go as planned. Without this kind of safety net, Kaehler stated, aging out is "like dropping off a cliff."

Steppin' Out was formed by folks at First United Methodist Church, with Kaehler, June Johnson and Brenda Redding taking the lead along with Larimer County social worker Pia Jansen-Lock. Now an independent nonprofit group, Steppin' Out has helped about 35 foster care youth since 2002. The organization's goal is to connect with 15 youth each year.

One recipient of this surrogate parenthood is Brieana Kirkpatrick, who recently received a Steppin' Out send-off to adult life. She, close friends, her foster family and Steppin' Out volunteers gathered at Old Chicago in Fort Collins for a party, gifts and lots of well-wishing.

Kirkpatrick graduated from Fossil Ridge High School last spring and now attends the University of Wyoming, with a goal of going into nursing or another medical field. So, the wish list she gave to Steppin' Out included school supplies and some things for her dorm room. Her favorite gift was a card saying that a refrigerator and microwave were already purchased and waiting for her.

Kirkpatrick, now 18, was raised in Montana and entered foster care at age 15. Prior to beginning her college career, she lived with foster mom Pam Schubert and Schubert's daughter Alena. Fortunately for Kirkpatrick, Schubert is keeping her room for her, so she has a place to come home to on weekends and school vacations. "The washing machine is at home," Schubert said with a knowing smile.

However, with foster care a done deal, Kirkpatrick must handle finances herself. She has some scholarships and loans for college and is now working on campus in Laramie. But she admits to being a bit nervous about "becoming a full-blown adult." She's learning to cook for herself, pay her bills and make her own decisions.

Kirkpatrick is pretty amazed at what Steppin' Out has done for her. "They're such caring people," she said. " They don't even know me, and they still care." She said that moral support from the group is even more important than the gifts.

Kaehler said that Steppin' Out invests $600 to $700 in each student it helps, besides gifts given individually by Steppin' Out volunteers. One man, she said, gives each student a set of tools. The organization has given a lot of bicycles away to help with basic transportation needs.

Steppin' Out is now trying to expand its emergency assistance fund so it can help even more with financial needs of youth who have flown the foster care nest. Recently, the group received an anonymous $6,000 grant for this fund.

"They need somewhere to turn," Kaehler emphasized.

Anyone interested in helping Steppin' Out, either with donations or volunteer time, may contact Kaehler at 484-1463 or the organization at P.O. Box 1155, Fort Collins CO 80522.