Resources include data and research from national studies examining outcomes for youth who have been involved with the child welfare system, addressing issues related to youth safety, permanency, well-being, and long-term outcomes into adulthood.
Adolescent Outcomes of Physically Abused Schoolchildren: NDACAN Dataset Number 117
Salzinger (2008)
Offers access to the dataset and codebook from a study conducted from 1997 to 2002 of adolescent outcomes for children who were physically abused at ages 9-12 years. The website also references all published research using data from the study.
Coming of Age: Employment Outcomes for Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care Through Their Middle Twenties
Urban Institute (2008)
Links child welfare, unemployment insurance, and public assistance administrative data to assess employment outcomes and welfare receipt for youth who age out of foster care.
Homeless Youth in the United States: Recent Research Findings and Intervention Approaches
Toro, Dworsky, & Fowler (2007)
In Toward Understanding Homelessness: The 2007 National Symposium on Homelessness Research
Reviews characteristics of homeless youth, recent research findings on this population, and youth-focused and family-focused interventions developed to address their housing and service needs.
Incidence and Vulnerability of LGBTQ Homeless Youth (PDF - 279 KB)
National Alliance to End Homelessness (2009)
Reviews research concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) homeless youth and offers suggestions for interventions with positive outcomes for homeless adolescents and young adults.
Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (2010)
Presents a study that finds young adults who have aged out of the child welfare system fare poorly compared to their peers. The website includes a number of reports released as part of the study, including State-specific reports for Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Permanency or Aging Out: Adolescents in the Child Welfare System (PDF - 873 KB)
LaLiberte & Snyder (Eds.)
CW360, 2009
Describes the successes, challenges, and outcomes for youth from all backgrounds emancipating from the child welfare system in finding permanency. The issue includes recommended practice approaches and resources to assist those working with adolescents in the child welfare system.
Youth in Foster Care With Adult Mentors During Adolescence Have Improved Adult Outcomes
Ahrens, DuBois, Richardson, Fan, & Lozano
Pediatrics, 121(2), 2008
Examines the impact of natural mentoring relationships on outcomes for youth in out-of-home care using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.