The following resources provide information on programs and strategies to help transitioning youth develop the life skills they to become self-sufficient adults. Resources include State and local examples.
Aging Out of Foster Care: 18 and On Your Own
Shared Justice (2017)
Provides information on youth aging out of foster care and their need to develop life skills through various means including mentoring, nonprofit organizations, universities, and government programs.
Aging Out of Foster Care Makes Eating Right a Challenge
Sorrell (2017)
National Foster Youth Institute
Reviews how young people aging out of the foster care system often have limited access to kitchens and cooking and may not know much about healthy eating and nutrition. Nutrition education programs can help youth aging out of foster care learn how to take care of themselves as they become adults.
Best Life Skills to Teach Teenage Foster Kids
TFI Family Services (2019)
Outlines important life skills to teach foster youth and reviews the importance of basic cooking skills, health and hygiene, home maintenance, relationship management, financial literacy, and career development.
Casey Life Skills
Casey Family Programs
Offers tools to help young people prepare for adulthood, including a life skills assessment in three languages, a guidebook to develop a learning plan, training, and other supplemental resources.
| Series Title | Factsheets for Families |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 329KB) Order (Free) |
| Year Published | 2018 |
In Real Life Blog Series: Building Life Skills and Independence for Youth in Foster Care
Swettberg (2016)
MENTOR, the National Mentoring Partnership
Emphasizes the importance of learning life skills for youth aging out of the foster care system, especially financial literacy skills. Former foster youth should understand how to live on a budget, become savvy shoppers, know how to build credit, pay bills on time, save money, and more.
Integrating Executive-Skills Building Into Workforce Programs
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2020)
Reviews the importance of offering executive skills building as part of workforce programs that help strengthen young people's abilities to set goals, develop plans, and follow through.
Transitioning and Aging Out
Youth.gov
Supports efforts to build the skills required to live independently and provides resources for youth aged 16-24 who are experiencing challenges as they transition to adulthood.
| Series Title | Bulletins for Professionals |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 287KB) Order (Free) |
| Year Published | 2018 |
State and local examples
Foster Youth in Transition
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Presents information for foster youth and those transitioning out of foster care in Michigan on education, employment, finances, housing, and more.
Independent Living Skills
Community Youth Services (2017)
Describes a program that provides basic life skills training and support to youth who are or have been in foster care in Washington. The program is designed to enhance a youth's ability to live independently and includes trainings on topics such as goal setting, money management, health care, transportation, self-esteem, and decision-making.
Life Skills Development Program
Valley Youth House
Assists young people transitioning out of foster care in Pennsylvania by providing group and individual life skills and career instruction and support. The program also provides workshops as well as cultural and wellness programs for youth.
Life Skills Foundation
Provides support for youth in Durham, North Carolina as they transition out of the foster care system and on to self-sufficiency and adulthood. The program helps youth with housing, employment, education, health and wellness, financial literacy, and building a support network.
Preparing Youth for Adulthood Program
Cardinal McCloskey Community Services
Prepares young people in New York for the transition from foster care to self-sufficiency with programs that include workshops, life-skills retreats, and more.
Silver Lining Mentoring
Empowers youth in foster care and those aging out of the system in Massachusetts with mentoring relationships that aim to develop essential life skills.
Transition Age Youth: Skills for Life
Martinez (2019)
Family Care Network, Inc.
Assists youth in California who are transitioning out of the foster care system with housing placement, education support, life skills programs, and more.
Youth Skills for Life Curriculum
Project Life, the Virginia Department of Social Services
Provides access to an independent living skills curriculum for youth transiting out of foster care. The skills learned relate to career preparation, employment, education, health and nutrition, housing and home management, money management, and more.