In just 5 minutes Anglin has captured the heartbreak that defines this population of vulnerable young people. '18 and Out' is poignant, troubling, and undoubtedly eye-opening, particularly if you are unaware of the plight of youth who emancipate from the child welfare system. The characters are real, the situation is real, and the emotions are real. Although '18 and Out' is the story of just one boy, the message is universal: All youth need and deserve a family or family-like connection to depend on, and all youth need and deserve to be sufficiently prepared to enter the adult world. We cannot continue to expect youth who emancipate from foster care to function effectively on their own. I hope everyone who sees '18 and Out' will consider getting involved in at least one way so that the 20,000 youth who age out every year do not have to continue going it alone.
