Support Services for Youth in Transition

As youth age out of out-of-home care, receiving guidance and support when facing life's challenges can help prepare them for self-sufficiency. Use the following resources to learn more about the areas in which youth may need support as they transition to adulthood.

• Community connections and supportive relationships
• Education
• Employment
• Financial Capability
• Housing
• Identity formation
• Life skills
• Mental health
• Youth with disabilities

Back on Track: Supporting Youth Reentry From Out-of-Home Placement to the Community
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition, Youth Reentry Task Force (2009)
Outlines the concept of reentry services in theory and practice and explores characteristics of reentry youth, collateral consequences associated with out-of-home placement, outcomes of reentry programs, and principles for effective youth reentry programs.

Building a Future Together: Issues and Outcomes for Transition-Aged Youth (PDF - 452 KB)
Reid & Dudding (2006)
Outlines eight areas where youth in foster care need support to ensure a smoother transition to adulthood.

Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth Transitioning From Foster Care (PDF - 1,536 KB)
Russ & Fryar (2014)
American Youth Policy Forum
Outlines the challenges and opportunities youth transitioning from foster care may experience in three distinct, yet overlapping areas of need, including sustainable social capital, permanency supports, and postsecondary opportunities. For each area of need, there is a definition of the challenges youth face and identified promising programs and policies in place to help them transition from foster care to a healthy, successful adult life.

For Foster Kids, Grownup Mentors Make All the Difference
Lightfoot (2013)
Crosscut
Describes five innovative mentoring programs in Washington that connect children and youth in foster care with adults who provide ongoing personal support that boosts their competence and self-sufficiency.

Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) Program Overview [Video]
Northeast Kingdom Community Action (2013)
Presents a series of testimonials from individuals who have participated in the NEKCA program, an organization that works with youth in need of help transitioning into adulthood by providing mentors and guidance.

The Transition to Adulthood: How States Can Support Older Youth in Foster Care (PDF - 2,539 KB)
NGA Center for Best Practices (2010)
Highlights effective State strategies and promising approaches aimed at improving outcomes for foster youth in education, employment, housing, health care, and relationships.