KGO

By Nannette Miranda

Jan. 17 - KGO - The state of California is a "neglectful parent" -- that's what a new report out concluded about the state's foster care system. It found many foster children don't have successful adult lives because no one is there for them when they turn 18.

Michelle Brunetta, former foster child: "I struggle everyday."

Eighteen-year-old Michelle Brunetta of San Diego County recently became too old for California's foster care system and was kicked out with virtually no family or support.

Michelle Brunetta, former foster child: "You have to think about doing laundry, cooking for yourself, about rent, about your job, about school. Everything!"

A new report out today by the Children's Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law explored the adulthood challenges faced by the 4,000 California foster children who age-out of the system every year.

Sixty-five percent have nowhere to go and end up homeless; less than three percent go to college; and 51 percent are unemployed.

Nancy O'Reilly, former foster child: "Today, I just want to beg the state to stop abandoning my foster brothers and sisters."

Former foster children and their advocates pleaded their case, asking lawmakers to help them.

Second-term Assemblywoman Karen Bass of Los Angeles led the way last year for more social workers and more financial support for families who care for foster kids related to them. She agrees more needs to be done for the kids turning 18.

Assm. Karen Bass, (D) Los Angeles: "I think we have a long way to go, but what I am confident about is that this is a bi-partisan issue. There's a lot of enthusiasm about it, and I believe we're going to be able to continue forward."

The report also points out that for every dollar invested in a foster child's early adult life, the state saves $2 dollars of taxpayer money later.

Melanie Delgado, report's author: "If we invest now, we won't have to spend on welfare, prison and continuing the cycle of foster care later."

Now 18 and still in the 9th grade, Michelle Brunetta is determined not to become a statistic.

Michelle Brunetta, former foster child: "I want to graduate. I want to succeed in life."

The report recommends allowing kids to stay with foster families until they're 21 and giving them taxpayer-funded monthly stipends during their transition to adulthood.

Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.