Aging out of Foster CareTransitions to Adulthood

FactsO Approximately 20,000 youth age out

of foster care each year.

O With the exception of incarcerated youth, foster youth are the only group that is involuntarily separated from their families through government intervention.

FactsO The primary purpose of this

separation is to protect youth from harm by their caregivers,

O State decides when these 20,000 foster youth are ready to be on their own

Who are youth in foster care?

O Roughly 500,000 youth live in foster careO 3/5 children of colorO 51% maleO Median age of 10O Half in non-family, 24% kinship, 17%

group homes

Why do they enter?O State decision due to

O AbuseO NeglectO Dependency

O Typically try to intervene before removal

O Prior to removal there’s a “permanency plan”

O If impossible, find home

What happens to youth in foster care?

O Vast majority find permanent home O 85% adopted or w legal guardian

O Some are emancipated into independent living, usually b/c they reached 18

OuctomesO 37% of foster youth aged 17–20 had not completed high

school degree or received a GED. They more oftenO suffer fm mental health problemsO become involved in crime O are victims of crimeO frequently homeless.

O former foster youth are more likely toO be employed than their peersO rely on public assistance; and O Live in povertyO Have children outside of marriageO Have marital problems.

Implications for PolicyO Given prolonged transition to

adulthood, states should provide extended assistance

O Parents provide 38K between 18-34. Unwise to cutoff at 18

O Extending care past 19 results in improved educational, health, and mental health outcomes

Older youth in Foster CareO majority are in care for a relatively short

timeO Only about 7% of youth in out-of-home

care “age out” of care

But different from younger…O Older youth (aged 16–18) are

O more likely to be living in group homes (the least “family-like” settings).

O Youth in these settings are also less likely to form the kind of lasting relationships with responsible adults O care facilities are typically staffed by relatively

young shift workers with high turnover.

Chaffe ActO The main program that supports youth during this

transition is the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999,

O commonly known as the Chafee Act, it provides $140 million in funding per year.O (mental health servicesO life skillsO MentoringO employment preparationO education, and others),O stipends for housing, O extended Medicaid eligibility

O through age 21 at state option. O valuable to foster youth, who often must contend with

mental health issues arising from their traumatic pasts

Chaffe (1999)O Medicaid was only available to prior

O provides states funding for vouchers for education and training to youth who O have aged out of foster care O have been adopted from the public

foster care system after age 16.

In reality...O Uneven use of servicesO Not much $ per youth ($1400)O Programs reinvent the wheelO Target population, program misses:

O many foster youth who are discharged from care before age 18 to their family of origin, usually a parent.

O Some of the most vulnerable, given their longer turbulent family histories.

O ruaways from foster care before they turn 18.

Fostering Connection to Success and Increasing Adoptions ActO Signed into law in 2008 (went into

effect 2011)O extends federal support for youth to

age 21

Lack of Safety NetO Since 1985 policies have given

states more flexibility and money for youth 18-21, but most don’t provide past 18

O 90% still don’t receive services permitted by lawO Often lose health care at 18

Foster Connections ActO Provides care, housing, and federally

distributed financial support to all youth 18-21 so long as youth areO Completing high school or equivalentO EmployedO Enrolled in a vocational program

O Requires that youth meet with caseworker prior to exiting the system