The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) snapshots offer a glimpse of National and State trends for young people who are receiving Independent Living Services through state child welfare programs. This Outcomes Data Snapshot shows statistical trends about who those young people are, their experiences and outcomes for those both in care and…

This paper investigates the transition planning for youth with disabilities living in foster care. Statutory regulations in South Africa contend that foster care lapses when young people reach the age of 18. It is however not certain how many of them are ready to navigate into an adult and independent lifestyle. This paper is concerned with the…

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) snapshots offer a glimpse of National and State trends for young people who are receiving Independent Living Services through state child welfare programs. This Outcomes Data Snapshot shows statistical trends about who those young people are, their experiences and outcomes for those both in care and…

This report shares findings taken from a Community Analysis and identifies 1) structural challenges that communities face as they work to support transition age youth (TAY); 2) narratives about TAY that contribute to these challenges and policies and practices that create burdens for TAY in meeting their needs; and 3) creative solutions that build…

What do youth need from their caseworkers to succeed as they prepare for their transition from foster care? Youth need a place to live, a job, money, medical and dental care, a postsecondary education plan, personal records, an adult or adults to turn to for help over time, information about how to accomplish their short and long-term goals for…

As of October 2022, over 53,000 children and youth are in foster care in California, including approximately 13,000 youth between the ages of 16 and 21. The State has an obligation to offer services and supports to help these young people transition into adulthood. The Independent Living Program (ILP) helps transition age youth currently or…

Background: Several studies demonstrate the benefits of socially critical work in sport pedagogy, which value young people's strengths, capabilities, knowledge, and resources. This body of research argues that young people have the agency to analyse their social contexts and to negotiate the forces that impede their choice of possibilities. While…

Much research highlights the potential of physical education and school sport (PESS) to provide personal, social and educational benefits for young people. As such, it is suggested that PESS contexts could be particularly relevant to pupils who might be considered marginalised or 'at risk'--including care-experienced young people--affording…

Foster Care Alumni (FCAs), or individuals who left the foster care system either by aging out, adoption, or returning to their family of origin, typically make up a small, fragmented portion of the student body at higher education institutions. This group is increasingly referred to as Foster Scholars on higher education campuses. FCAs tend to…

Arizona State University's (ASU) Bridging Success program, launched in 2015, is a campus-based support program for students with a background in foster care, also known as Foster Care Alumni (FCA). The program is housed within ASU's School of Social Work, which is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. The program…

To measure the outcomes of youth transitioning out of foster care, states are required to administer the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) survey to cohorts of youth at ages 17, 19, and 21. With this third cohort of young people having completed all three waves of data collection, researchers better understand the experiences of current…

I explored the experiences of former foster youth (FFY) as they transition through the foster care system and navigate high school, aiming to bridge the knowledge gap regarding the lived realities of FFY during these transitions, and emphasizing the challenges they face and the support systems that may be lacking. A qualitative research approach…

Summary: More than 50% of children who depart foster care will experience a permanency placement after being involved in the child welfare system. The struggles faced by children and families during the transition into the home and community setting following foster care are well-known and often result in child welfare reentry. Presently, little…

In response to growing evidence that young people aging out of foster care face significant challenges during their transition to adulthood and fare more poorly than their peers across a wide range of life domains, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 gave states the option to extend eligibility for federally…

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) contracted with three child welfare providers that operate transitional living (TLP) or independent living (ILO) programs (or both) to implement LifeSet, an intensive case management program developed by Youth Villages, for youth in care who are 17.5 to 21 years old. LifeSet helps…