From care to where?

From care to where 
Where will I go? 
That’s for me to find out 
Not for me to know 
“You’re an adult now, nearly 18”
”Be prepared as real world is not what it seems” 

Think about your career, tenancy and taxes 
Think of how you’ll tackle dire circumstances 
Therapy will cost and we don’t have the funding 
But someone will be there to help you 
Come Monday morning
Then six weeks after that
So you should be okay 
Our offices are open, but not on Fridays

From care to where? 
Where will I be? 
Am I another statistic?
Another case study?
Another tragic story to raise awareness about?
Riddled with anxiety, unable to leave the house?

I could end up in prison 
Or sleep on the street 
Will I afford the shoes on my feet?
Will I heal or fall off track?
Will my co-operate parents take me back? 

If I struggle to cope or lose or hope
Surely they’ll interfere if I start smoking dope 
Because then I’ll be an ASBO child 
Get in some trouble 
At least then I’ll be noticed 
Not left in the rubble 

Will I meet a good partner?
Or seek anyone at all
Domestic violence or not 
It’s someone to call 
What if I get evicted 
‘Cos I don’t know what I’m doing 
I am biting off more than I am chewing 

I’m only 17, not long left school 
I just don’t feel equipped with the right tools
People make decisions about my life 
They sit round a table and discuss my strife 
They ask for my input and thinks it’s nice that I’ve engaged 
But social services decide my fate 

From care to where
A bedsit in the city 
From a group home 
To the nitty and gritty 
The transitions too strong 
I don’t know where I belong 
Local authority have got me all wrong 

It’s not my social workers fault 
They’ve got 30 odd cases 
I’m surprised they can match names to their young peoples faces
Up to their eyeballs in paperwork
Cant build a rapport 
I’m a human being 
Not another chore

From care to where? 
Where will I be? 
Let me know IRO 
Its not up to me