These resources address the additional service needs of children and youth with disabilities and their caregivers including information on educational, medical, and transitional services for children and youth. Resources include State and local examples.
Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Provides specialized services to children with serious emotional disturbance, developmental disabilities, and medical fragility. B2H is a Federal Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for children in foster care, the first of its kind in the nation.
Improving the Transition to Adulthood for Youth With Disabilities in Foster Care
Juvenile Law Center (2017)
Describes the challenge of transitioning to adulthood for youth with disabilities in foster care and provides information and resources to assist with transition planning.
Medicaid and Children in Foster Care (PDF - 211 KB)
Allen & Hendricks (2013)
Center for Health Care Strategies
Details the health-care needs of children in foster care and the role of Medicaid in providing health-care coverage for this population. The publication also highlights existing policies that may help address the health and well-being of youth in foster care.
Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care (PDF - 494 KB)
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2016)
Provides guidance that aims to inform States, districts, and child welfare agencies on new provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act for supporting children and youth in foster care and highlights the importance of collaboration between educational and child welfare agencies for the well-being of youth in foster care.
Spotlight on SSI Benefits for Disabled or Blind Youth in Foster Care: 2017 Edition
Social Security Administration (2017)
Explains eligibility for Social Security Income (SSI) for youth who are blind or with disabilities aging out of foster care.
Systems of Mental Health Care for Youth in Foster Care (PDF - 736 KB)
American Psychological Association, Children, Youth, and Families Office (2012)
Offers information on mental health care for youth in foster care and includes an article focused on mental health services utilized by families that adopt children with special needs (on page 15).
A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth With Disabilities
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (2020)
Provides information from the Department of Education on transition planning, transition services and requirements, and education and employment options for students and youth with disabilities.
Transition to Adulthood
Center for Parent Information and Resources (2017)
Provides information about youth with disabilities transitioning out of foster care, including the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act's definition of transition services, what to include in an individualized education plan (IEP), and more.
State and local examples
The Best Ways to Help Young Adults With Disabilities Transition Out of Foster Care
Integrity, Inc. (2015)
Focuses on children with disabilities aging out of the foster care system and provides information on transition planning in Arkansas.
Educational Experiences of Youth With Disabilities in Foster Care: Part Two in the Policy Brief Series on Disability (PDF - 448 KB)
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota (2012)
Analyzes and presents data on the experiences of older youth with disabilities in Minnesota's foster care system with a focus on their educational experiences.
Minnesota Secondary Transition Toolkit for Families: A Guide to Preparing Your Child With a Disability for Life Beyond High School (PDF - 10,801 KB)
Pacer Center and the Minnesota Department of Education (2017)
Provides information on how to prepare older youth with disabilities for the transition into adulthood.
Out of Home Placement Services: Ready by 21 Policy Manual (PDF - 2,947 KB)
Maryland Department of Human Resource, Social Services Administration (2017)
Gives guidance on preparing youth in foster care, including those with disabilities, for transitioning from out-of-home placement into successful adulthood.