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
- College scholarships and support for higher education
- Employment
- Financial literacy
- Housing
- Identity formation
- Life skills
- Mental health
- Youth with disabilities
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.
Preventing & Ending Homelessness for Justice Involved Youth in Minnesota (PDF – 350 KB)
CSH (2018)
Provides information and tools on how to work with community providers and young adults during their transition to adulthood.
Supporting Older Youth in Foster Care
National Conference of State Legislatures (2019)
Provides information on efforts by states across the country to improve the lives of older youth in foster care and lists changes made since 2012 on topics such as extending care beyond 18, re-entry into foster care, youth engagement, education, transitioning out of foster care, identity theft, behavioral health, homelessness, and more.
What Available Supports and Resources Are in Place for Youth Transitioning From Foster Care?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2020)
Outlines services and resources to assist youth in foster care as they work toward self-sufficiency. The article provides information on education and training vouchers, employment and training programs, housing assistance, and health care.