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Judge Thompson Addresses Older Youth Summit

Rolla, Mo. – Forty-Second Circuit Juvenile Division Judge Benjamin Thompson addressed the Missouri Chil­dren’s Division Southeast Re­gion 2017 Older Youth Sum­mit on the importance of Older Youth Involvement in Juvenile Court and Transition Planning held on September 27 at Co­lumbia College in Rolla, Mis­souri.

The Summit was held as part of Missouri’s Older Youth Pro­gram, which incorporates the Foster Care and Independence Act of 1999, a federal legisla­tion, which introduced the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program in each state and encompasses philosophy through positive youth development and the distinct permanency needs of adolescents to assist with the successful transition from ado­lescence to adulthood.

National statistics indicate nearly 30,000 youth eman­cipate from the foster care system each year when they reach age 18-21. These young people leave without emotional or financial support that fami­lies provide. For young people who have left foster care, the immediate struggle for day-to-day survival after leaving care makes planning for a good fu­ture difficult.

To safeguard the well-being of youth making this transition, a continuation of support and preparation must begin when the youth enters out-of-home care. The Act enables the Mis­souri Children’s Division to provide services and financial assistance to help these young adults as they develop the skills and education needed to move successfully into self-sufficien­cy and independence.

The purpose of the Older Youth Summits is for older youth and community partners to share information and a vi­sion to help youth successfully transition from care.

The Summits provide an opportunity to discuss issues for youth transitioning at the community level, where older youth are exiting and depend on the resources provided where they reside.

The Summits focus on edu­cation, employment and job readiness, cross systems col­laboration, health and mental health, permanency and life-long connections, with the goal to develop a common vision of where a community is and where they would like to be in helping older youth transition successfully to adulthood.

The 2017 Southeast Region Older Youth Summit was at­tended by older youth, Chil­dren’s Division representa­tives, juvenile officers and community partners from the 24th, 25th, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 36th, 37th, and 42nd Judicial Circuits. Other Summit pre­sentations included: “Signs of Safety – Signs of Success” – Noah Rienks, Missouri Chil­dren’s Division Specialist; “Fi­nancial Options for Post-Sec­ondary Education” – Columbia College; and “Don’t Write a Boring Story” – Casey Wray, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. A panel of Older Youth also presented on their own per­sonal experiences in Missouri’s Child Welfare System.

Youth in attendance report­ed they learned a lot from the presentations and community partners, that it was helpful to know other youth share their experiences, and that they “had a blast”.

The Southeast Region Older Youth Program thanks all the presenters, Columbia College for donating the facility and time, and the many community partners throughout the region who donated door prizes for the Older Youth.

If you are a community member wishing to participate in the Older Youth Program, please contact Bobbie Thomas, Children’s Division – Older Youth Transition Specialist, at (573) 238-2624 ext. 238.

 

 

3 Comments

  1. Anonymous on April 18, 2023 at 10:13 am

    Benjamin Thompson also sentenced a juvenile offender who, had offender been of legal age at time of crime would’ve been charged with murder in the first degree of his own mother, but was only 15, this judge gave said juvenile a mere 2 years in a juvenile detention center.. as if losihg a lived one wasn’t bad enough….the judicial system totally slapped the family in the face. 2:years for murder an the kids out living the high life on street drugs an making our world just that much more rendered with addiction…..smh. 2yrs for murder when the law states punishment were to be held at the level required for such offense… like life in prison…. not two years for putting a bullet uh ur own mother’s head while she slept

  2. Anonymous on May 16, 2021 at 10:59 pm

    How would I get judge Benjamin Thompson’s from the 42nd judicial court in Missouri email address so I can email him my concerns since the DFS system won’t let me ever use my voice in court room here in this county

    • Anonymous on June 5, 2022 at 4:04 pm

      I’m needing a meeting with judge Benjamin thompson how do I proceed in getting this

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