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Research and Recommendations for Postemancipation Services

Research and recommendations about postemancipation services.

Connecting Vulnerable Youth: A Municipal Leader's Guide (PDF - 171 KB)
Johnson, Johnson, Kyle, Ashford, Kilbride, & Politz (2002)
Examines youths' characteristics, struggles, needs, and capacity to rebound and succeed when given a second chance; provides a glimpse of how a few cities have risen to the challenge of connecting youth; and offers advice on how other communities can chart a similar course.

Effective Approaches to Supporting Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: A Review of Research That Is Currently Underway (PDF - 93 KB)
Dunne (2004)
Looks at research to explore effective supports for this group, and examines the Casey National Alumni Study, the Multi-Site Evaluation of Foster Youth Programs, and the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth.

On Their Own: What Happens to Kids When They Age Out of the Foster Care System?
Shirk, Stangler, & Carter (2004)
View Abstract
Describes the challenges faced by youth who moved from foster care to independence in cities across the country; illustrates the need for family and informal support networks, preparation for household and financial management, and youth participation in planning; and presents specific strategies to improve the outcomes for these youth.

The Transition to Adulthood for Youth Leaving Public Systems: Challenges to Policies and Research
Foster & Gifford (2005)
In On the Frontier of Adulthood: Theory, Research, and Public Policy
View Abstract
Examines the experiences of youth leaving public assistance programs and describes the services that are available to help them achieve independence; asserts research has not demonstrated the effectiveness of aftercare services; and suggests that future research should assess services from a life-course perspective, using a flexible model of development and considering the social costs of policies.

The Transition Years: Serving Current and Former Foster Youth Ages Eighteen to Twenty-One (PDF - 569 KB)
National Resource Center for Youth Development (2004)
Presents results from a survey of States and agencies to learn how services are currently being delivered, describe available services, and identify current barriers. Addresses the four core principles that are critical for the successful delivery of services to youth.

Vstreet.com: A Web-Based Community for At-Risk Teens
Pacifici, White, Cummings, & Nelson
Child Welfare, 84(1), 2005
View Abstract
Evaluated a prototype version of Vstreet.com, an innovative website for at-risk youth, designed to teach life skills and build community connections.

What Works in Aftercare
Mech (2000)
In What Works in Child Welfare
View Abstract
Presents research that indicates that community and natural support systems contribute to positive outcomes for antisocial, disturbed, and delinquent youth and that workplace connections, intensive vocational training in the workplace, and transitional apartment experiences are especially effective in helping youth achieve self-sufficiency.

Updated on March 1, 2010