The irony, Lockwood said, is that at 17, the boy is considered an adult in the criminal justice system but not old enough to live on his own. The closest Milwaukee comes to helping older teens develop independence is Walker's Point Youth and Family Center's supervised transitional living group home. The home on Milwaukee's south side is restricted to teens, ages 16 and 17, who are not in the child welfare system, according to Noffsinger. The teens generally have either run away or been kicked out of their homes. The co-ed residence, which can house eight teens, allows residents a greater range of independence than the more restrictive, traditional group home and is voluntary.
Teen mothers can stay there with one child for three months.
Residents are expected to attend school and get a job, with a significant portion of their income going into a savings account. They also receive training in independent living. Noffsinger and Courtney said one of the most difficult tasks for the teens is learning how to deal with their biological families. The UW study shows that foster children have extensive contact with their families after they leave the system. But they get little, if any, advice for that, Courtney said.