Youth and young people in foster care face many challenges as they transition into adulthood and prepare to live on their own. While all youth may struggle to achieve self-sufficiency and independence, youth in out-of-home care face additional obstacles and often benefit from extra support. 

Young people transitioning from foster care should be connected to and supported in maintaining positive relationships with trusted adults who can provide stability and introduce them to programs and services to help improve their life skills, knowledge, and self-sufficiency. Connecting youth and young people to information and services can empower them to make informed decisions about their transition in collaboration with trusted adults and child welfare professionals. 

Independent living programs help youth in transition reach their goals by providing services and resources to help them more effectively and smoothly transition into adulthood with a sense of normalcy and permanent, stable connections. All decisions should be youth driven, and it is also essential for young people to maintain and continue supportive relationships during and after they leave care.

Use these resources to learn about programs and services that serve youth transitioning from foster care. Adjust the filters below to refine your list of resources. Can’t find what you need in the filtered results? Try searching our Library catalog to access a large selection of peer-reviewed journal articles, evaluation reports, Children’s Bureau grant materials, research studies, and more.