There are many charities and organizations that help children and families in need in the Blue Water Area. We report on them often, especially during the holiday season. There is one group of young people who sometimes slip through the cracks. Those are foster children who have aged out of the system. Each case is different, but their common bond is that they are trying to get on with their lives after being in foster care. They are not eligible for Department of Health and Human Services programs because their cases have been closed. These very young adults could use a Christmas gift also. According to a memo from Sunshine Ratliff, Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative Coordinator for the St. Clair County Department of Health and Human Services, these youths are aged 17 to 24. Some of them are young parents, are in school, live independently, and are in the workforce. They are monitored through the MYOI.
