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Young adults with histories of out-of-home care (OOHC) have poor early adult outcomes. Transitioning to adulthood takes preparation, coupled with support and resources. Few studies have examined these young adults’ perceptions of what helped them prepare for adulthood and how prepared they perceived they were to make the developmental transition to adulthood. This convergent mixed methods study builds knowledge surrounding preparedness among a sample of young adults with histories in OOHC (N = 204).
The study progressed in three phases. First, quantitative measures of preparedness…
Youth aging out of child welfare systems face an abrupt transition to adulthood and expectation for self-sufficiency with few supports. The current study represents a scoping review and narrative synthesis that sought to identify indicators used to measure the success of aging out youth and their corresponding methods of assessment. A database search was conducted and 150 articles were included in the review. Results revealed eight broad indicators of successful transitions, including: education, employment, basic needs, social support and relationships, conduct and victimization, health,…
This exploratory narrative case study delves into the life trajectories of two English-speaking adults age 50+ who spent over three years in youth protection-based congregate care and aged out of these services in Quebec, Canada. It examines how residential foster care alumni describe their life history and what insights they can provide regarding their transitions to adulthood and parenthood, and their placement experiences. Policy makers, clinicians, and researchers should observe that insights from adults over age 40 are underexamined, and these data point to complex interpersonal…
Abstract
Background
Youth who exit the nation’s foster care system without permanency are at high risk of experiencing difficulties during the transition to adulthood.
Objective
To present an illustrative test of whether an algorithmic decision aid could be used to identify youth at risk of exiting foster care without permanency.
Methods
For youth placed in foster care between ages 12 and 14, we assessed the risk of exiting care without permanency by age 18 based on their child welfare service involvement history. To develop predictive risk models, 28 years (1991–2018) of…
ABSTRACT
As of 2019, there were over 670,000 youths in the United States' foster care system. These youths are typically more at risk for complications when transitioning out of the foster care system into independent living, including low educational attainment, unemployment, homelessness, financial difficulties, and physical and mental health problems, as compared to others youths their age. Transitional programming for youths exiting the foster care system may improve these youths' abilities to integrate more effectively into the community as they transition to independent living.…
Abstract
This study aimed to better understand the role that Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) play in the lives of transition-age youth (TAY) by asking participants about the nature of their relationships with their CASAs, and the extent to which their CASAs helped prepare them for independent living. This study involved qualitative analysis of interviews conducted as part of a larger mixed-methods study with TAY in New York City. The sample included 15 young adults ages 18 to 22 who had a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) prior to or at the time of the interview/s…
The Children’s Bureau, within the Administration for Children and Families (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), is funding a multi-phase grant program to build the evidence base on what works to prevent homelessness among youth and young adults who have been involved in the child welfare system. This program is called Youth At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH). YARH focuses on three populations: (1) adolescents who enter foster care from ages 14 to 17, (2) young adults aging out of foster care, and (3) homeless youth and young adults up to age 21 with foster care histories.
Eighteen…
Abstract
This study examined the rates and correlates of first and repeat births in a national sample of females emancipating from foster care in the United States (N=3,699). Data from the National Youth in Transition Database and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System were used to evaluate birth rates between ages 19 and 21, and explore the risk, protective, and child welfare factors associated with first and repeat births. Findings revealed that about 30% of females in the current sample had given birth between ages 19 and 21. Of these females, about one-…
Abstract
Financial capability is crucial for youth in foster care to develop prior to transitioning to independence. However, little is known about how these youth fare regarding financial capability. This study assesses whether youth in foster care in the United States who are over age 18 have better financial capability and related supports compared with younger youth and whether there are associations between supports and financial capability. Survey data from 97 youth aged 14 to 20 in foster care were analysed. Participants aged 18 and older had more advanced financial capability than…
Abstract
Background
Racial/ethnic disparities are persistent in referrals and removals of children into child welfare systems. Yet, less is known about disparities in reunification, and how system factors may contribute to more equitable outcomes for families of color.
Objective
This study examined racial/ethnic disparities in reunification rates across U.S. child welfare systems controlling for child- and system-factors.
Participants and setting
Data for this study came from the 2017 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). We utilized a subsample of…