I am here to speak in support of the implementation of Raise the Age for 19-year-olds as well as raising the minimum age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 10 to 12.  

There is broad agreement that Raise the Age is the right policy for Vermont.   The concept has been fully vetted and the Department for Children and Families is in support of the policy change. The recent debates have all been about the timing.

Raise the Age is better for youth, it will enhance community safety, and it will likely save the state money.  It is a win-win-win.  We have heard years of testimony about how DCF is unable to support 19-year-olds within their current structure.  But, we have not heard reports on how much it costs Vermonters to include the same age group in the adult system, or whether those funds could follow 19-year-olds to the juvenile system.

Instead - we have delayed, and delayed and delayed.  We have spent countless hours debating whether we are ready or not.  Our legislative sessions are short and there is much work to be done.  We need to move forward giving DCF the resources they need to serve young people. 

It is unclear what efforts have been made to prepare for Raise the Age thus far.  Contracts are still being signed that cap the age of service at 18.  We are not developing new options for older youth.  How will we be more prepared in two years? It is clear that implementation will occur when it is required - and not a moment before.

In Vermont - we have opted to extend foster care beyond the age of 18 because we recognize that young adults are unprepared to enter the world alone. Without strong support systems,  18-year-olds leaving foster care are often poorly prepared to pursue higher education or begin their careers, and these impacts harm youth of color and LGBTQ youth in particular, who are overrepresented in the foster care system and are more likely to experience negative outcomes.

Extended foster care allows the child welfare system more time to help youth make the transition to adult independence.  

We need to apply these same principles to Raise the Age.  We have a structure under which DCF can take responsibility for young people who experience ongoing abuse and neglect.  

National data tells us that if a child has moved to five or more placements, they are at a 90% risk of being involved with the criminal legal system. The children in Vermont’s foster care system often experience multiple placements; some experience dozens.

Exposure to the criminal justice system while young people are forming their identities is a predictor of future involvement in the criminal system.   We hear about kids and their behaviors, but we fail to take accountability for our role in the foster care-to-prison pipeline.  Instead of punishing predictable responses, we need structures that create healthy boundaries and accountability in ways that promote healing and overall well-being. 

We have a responsibility to treat young people without resources with the same support and protection that children who come from privileged backgrounds experience.  As a college student, I’ve witnessed the leniency that students get. Disorderly conduct, underage alcohol consumption, vandalism… Colleges have structures for supporting young people who break rules and laws. 

When children with resources commit these offenses, their indiscretions are seen as learning opportunities - with accompanying fines and community service.  Yet - without Raise the Age, less advantaged 19-year-olds who commit the same infractions and even survival crimes, will continue to end up with permanent records and punishments that can prohibit them from future ambitions.  

The longer we delay - the more harm that will occur.  When making decisions about policies, it is important to center those who will be most impacted by the decisions we make.  Delaying Raise the Age may delay the administrative task of shifting structures, but it will also delay the benefits of the program that the state has already endorsed. 

Voices for Vermont’s Children supports removing the delay from H.2, allowing Raise the Age to go into effect.  

Voices would also like to extend our appreciation for all the work that has brought us to this moment and look forward to celebrating the success of Raise the Age in the near future.