This report…shares what we know about older youth transitioning from foster care (“transition-age youth”) in Virginia; describes federal data on youth outcomes in Virginia and other states; and details findings from a recent policy scan and national survey on services targeted to these youth.
Qualitative methods were used to conduct in-depth interviews with 5 foster youth who aged out of the foster care system in the past 5-7 years. Foster youth described having supportive and unsupportive relationships with foster parents, house parents, kinship guardians, and caseworkers. Other areas that were discussed included: extended foster care placement, independent living, and the aftercare program.
Objective: Research suggests that the presence of natural mentors may ameliorate the risk associated with emancipating from foster care, though only half of foster youth have natural mentors. This study investigated the extent to which involvement in prosocial activities is associated with natural mentoring among youth at risk of emancipation.
Casey Family Programs works to safely reduce the need for foster care and build Communities of Hope for children and families across America. Our mission is to provide and improve — and ultimately prevent the need for — foster care. We offer an extensive library of child welfare research, best practices and policy tools, including a selection of resources on…
The first two phases of this Opportunities in Transition study document and estimate the costs of the adverse educational, economic, social and wellness outcomes for youth aging out of care. The purpose of this third and final phase is to estimate the incremental costs of support measures that can improve outcomes and to compare these costs to the benefits they may generate.
This phase 1 report is followed by reports on: (i) the costs of negative outcomes to the youth themselves, government and society as a whole and (ii) the incremental costs and potential net benefits of support measures that can improve outcomes.
The adverse educational, economic, social and wellness outcomes for youth aging out of care identified in the first phase of this Fostering Change Economic Analysis Project impose significant costs for the youth themselves, government (taxpayers), and society as a whole. The purpose of this second phase report is to describe and, to the extent possible, provide estimates of the magnitude of these costs.
iFoster is an online resource portal for anyone living outside of their biological home, their caregivers, and organizations that serve them.
Advocating for the people, programs and policies for abused and neglected children.
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative is a national and state-based effort that aims to ensure all young people transitioning from foster care have the relationships, resources and opportunities to ensure well-being and success.