“I fell off the path many times”: Engaged and Disengaged Youth

Abstract Chapter 14 explores the experiences of two youth aging out: Plato and Victor. One key difference between the youth is Plato is engaged in services while Victor is not. Another key difference is the level of violence in their lives; Victor’s life is actively filled with violence, and he has been in jail several times. The chapter explores the many things Plato and Victor have in common. They left care at age 18. They both are raising a child with their girlfriends and want to provide for their children. They have unstable housing. The chapter concludes that those engaged with services may be faring better.